You shall not muzzle the ox when it treads out the grain.
Read Chapter 25
George Leo Haydock
AD 1849
Not muzzle St. Paul understands this of the spiritual labourer in the church of God, who is not to be denied his maintenance, 1 Corinthians ix. 8, 9, 10. (Challoner)
Other labourers, and even beasts, must likewise be treated with humanity. It was formerly the custom in Egypt, Judea, Spain, to have a clean spot in the field, round a tree, where during the heat of the day, they spread the sheaves, and made oxen continually go round, to tread out the corn. Some had the ill nature to muzzle them, or to cover their mouths with dung; (Æliian iv. 25,) whence arose the proverb, "an ox in a heap "of corn, to denote a miser, who amidst plenty will not eat. (Suidas.)
Moses condemns this cruelty; as it is not just, says Josephus, to refuse these animals so small a recompence for the assistance which they afford us in procuring corn. (Calmet)
Besides this literal sense, God had principally in view the mystical one, which St. Paul unfolds to us. (Menochius)
Paine hence takes occasion to ridicule...
