קהלת, פרק ג׳, פסוק כ׳

Observing the physical fate of living creatures reveals a continuous material cycle where the beginning and the end are exactly the same. From a purely outward perspective, humans and animals share an identical physical destiny. Because this physical end appears completely equal for all living beings, people sometimes cast aside their intellect and choose to live like animals [תעלומות חכמה]. This perspective reinforces the broader theme that earthly reality is ultimately empty, since every creature is heading toward the exact same destination [אבן עזרא].

Every living creature, human and animal alike, shares this universal journey [מצודת דוד]. They all travel toward a single destination, returning to the dust [מצודת דוד]. This natural law reflects the order of creation established by God. According to His design, anything created on the earth is formed from the earth and must eventually return to it, just as heavenly creations remain bound to their heavenly origins [תורה תמימה]. When viewing life strictly through a physical lens, it becomes clear that everything originates from dust and inevitably reverts to it. Just as the first human and all animal life were initially formed from the earth, every physical body breaks down at death, returning to the raw material from which it was made [מצודת דוד, ביאור שטיינזלץ].