קהלת, פרק ה׳, פסוק י״ב

The pursuit of wealth is often viewed as a path to security and success, but it can easily twist into a destructive force that ruins the very person who gathers it. This severe misfortune falls heavily upon a person, acting like a painful, sickening illness [אבן עזרא, רלב״ג, ביאור שטיינזלץ, מצודת דוד]. The sages note that such a condition implies a multiplied type of suffering, much like an individual who is simultaneously poor, weak, hungry, and naked [תורה תמימה]. Rather than a simple financial loss, the true tragedy is that the money itself actively causes the owner pain and torment during his lifetime [תעלומות חכמה].

Often, an individual hoards money without ever actually enjoying it. He keeps it locked away in the hope of generating even greater future profits, or simply to pass it down to his children [מצודת דוד, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Ultimately, however, this intense guarding works against him. On a practical level, excessive assets attract dangerous attention. Great fortunes breed jealousy and can provoke informers to spread false accusations, sometimes resulting in government authorities seizing the entire estate [מצודת דוד, תורה תמימה].

Beyond physical danger, extreme riches can corrupt a person's character and pave the way to ultimate ruin. The primary approach among commentators points to Korah, who discovered massive treasures. His newfound fortune filled him with arrogance, leading him to incite a rebellion against Moses, which ended with him and his possessions going down to the grave. History is filled with similar downfalls: Naboth the Jezreelite was murdered because King Ahab coveted his vineyard; Haman used his vast funds to rise to power and attempt to buy the destruction of the Israelites, only to face his own downfall; and the tribes of Gad and Reuben possessed so much livestock that they chose to settle outside the Land of Israel, resulting in them being the first to suffer exile.

Another perspective connects this danger to the story of Job. Although his wealth was preserved and ultimately restored to him, it still acted to his detriment. By receiving such an immense reward from God in this physical world, he effectively lost his rightful portion in the World to Come [תורה תמימה].