קהלת, פרק י׳, פסוק ט״ו

The tragedy of wasted effort becomes painfully clear when a person works relentlessly, draining their energy, yet achieves nothing due to a lack of basic direction. Hard work transforms into a source of suffering when it is not guided by wisdom. The primary approach among commentators is that a foolish person experiences immense exhaustion because they pour tremendous effort into tasks that should not require such strain [מצודת ציון]. Without knowing how to find the paved and established road to their destination, they wander down side paths, squander their strength for nothing, and sometimes even fall into mud and water [רש״י, מצודת דוד, ביאור שטיינזלץ, צאינה וראינה]. This physical wandering serves as a metaphor for an individual who attempts to grasp lofty and complex concepts while remaining completely ignorant of simple, obvious truths [אבן עזרא].

Beyond a physical journey, traveling toward a city symbolizes the spiritual path. Wicked individuals and those who abandon the study of Torah do not know the true path that would allow them to distance themselves from sin. Because they lack the Torah to serve as a lamp lighting their way, they are confronted with numerous confusing trails. They exhaust themselves endlessly, ultimately inheriting the suffering of hell. In contrast, those who walk in the path of God enjoy a clear and direct route. Even when difficult questions arise, they can resolve them easily with minimal strain [רש״י, תעלומות חכמה, צאינה וראינה].

The sages applied this concept to specific situations where a lack of knowledge leads to stagnation or disaster. For instance, a student might struggle to advance in their studies yet fail to realize they must seek out their teacher. The teacher, compared to a knowledgeable city dweller, is the one who can help them understand and review the material. A tragic historical example of this is Jephthah the Gileadite, who made a rash vow to sacrifice whatever first came out of his house. His foolish toil was rooted in the fact that he did not know he simply needed to approach Phinehas the High Priest, who was alive at the time, to annul his vow and save his daughter [תורה תמימה].