Yea, [they are] greedy dogs [which] can never have enough, and they [are] shepherds [that] cannot understand: they all look to their own way, every one for his gain, from his quarter.
Ver. 11. Yea, they are greedy dogs that can never have enough.] Heb., Strong of soul, or of appetite; they know not to be satisfied. Lac et luna, is that they look for; the "instruments of a foolish shepherd," forcipes et mulctra, the shears and milk pail are in their hand; Zec 11:15 they eat the fruit and drink the milk; as Eze 25:4 yea, they eat the fat, and tear the claws in pieces. Zec 11:16 Albertus Magnus complained heavily of the covetousness of pastors in his time. Temporalia colliguntper se, spiritualia seminant per alios saith he on Matthew 10:16; a they take little pains, but care not how much profit they make. He that made Fasciculus temporum, doth the like. Another modern writer fitly applieth that to them, which Oedipus in Sophocles saith of Tiresias the heathen prophet -
“ οστις εν τοις κερδεσι
Mονον δεδορκε, την τεχνην δ εφυτυφλος, ”
i.e., that he looked only to his gain, but was little seen in his profession. Such a one was Balaam; Jdg 1:11 such were those false prophets; Eze 13:2-3 the covetous Pharisees; Luk 16:14 the false apostles, Rom 16:18 called dogs; Php 3:2 such as had a greedy worm under their tongues, and could never be satisfied.
And they are shepherds that cannot understand.] The dust of covetousness hath even put out their eyes. As it fared with the blind a and greedy Pharisees, Avidi a non videndo, the world is a pearl in their eyes; they cannot see God, nor skill of their office. Tremellius rendereth it nesciunt docere; they know not to teach, as being choked haply with a fat benefice - a common practice of the Pope.
They all look to their own way.] Mind their own commodity, whereby they are led up and down, as an ox may be all aground over by a bottle of hay.
a Midas secundum Etymologiam Graecam caecus est. Midas, according to Greek mythology, was blind.