[Whoso] findeth a wife
A good one; so the Septuagint, Vulgate Latin, Syriac, and Arabic versions, supply it; and so the Targum, though it leaves out the word good in the last clause; and no other can be meant, even a good natured one, wise, prudent, careful, and industrious; a proper helpmeet, a virtuous woman, as in ( Proverbs 31:10 ) ; whoso seeks after such an one, and finds one, especially one that has the grace of God, which he should seek after among his friends, and by their assistance, and by prayer to God: findeth a good [thing];
that will be good for him, both upon a civil and spiritual account; the Septuagint version adds,
``he that casts out a good wife casts out good things, but he that retains a whore is foolish and ungodly;''which is followed by the Vulgate Latin, Syriac, and Arabic versions, but is not in the Hebrew text. Jarchi interprets it of the law in a mystic sense, but, according to the literal sense, of a good wife; and obtaineth favour of the Lord;