Commentators note that Hodesh was likely a Moabite wife. This is supported by the names of her sons, Mesha and Malcam. 'Mesha' was the name of a famous Moabite king, and 'Malcam' is connected to Milcom, a pagan god of the Moabites and Ammonites. This detail highlights the cultural intermingling between Israel and its neighbors during this period.