For an odious [woman] when she is married; and an handmaid that is heir to her mistress.
Ver. 23. For an odious woman when she is married.] Such a one was Peninnah, who vexed good Hannah, "to make her to thunder," as the original hath it. a Such was Jezebel, Herodias, Messalina, wife to the Emperor Claudias, who was her agent to effect her sinful purposes, and her patient to sustain her lewd conditions. She compelled also other Roman ladies to be as lewd as herself, and those that would not she hated, and banished them from the court. b
And an handmaid that is heir to her mistress.] That succeeds her in the marriage bed; her good and her blood will rise together, as we see in Hagar. Hence that counsel of the Greek poet:
“ Mηποτε δουλευσασα γυνη δεσποινα γενοιτο ”
“Never make thy maid thy mistress.”
Such hens will be apt to crow, such wives to breed disturbance in the family.
a 1 Samuel 1:6 .
b Dio in Claudio.