חבקוק, פרק ב׳, פסוק י׳

The drive to achieve security and wealth through the exploitation and ruin of others is a path that ultimately leads to self-destruction and lasting generational disgrace. When a person plots to fortify their social standing and build their estate using stolen wealth and oppressive tactics, these very plans invite shame upon their household and descendants. Rather than creating a secure legacy, this corrupt foundation guarantees ruin. As enemies eventually rise to tear down these ill-gotten structures, the family line faces complete eradication [מצודת דוד, רד״ק].

The sheer scale of this ruthless ambition involves the violent dismantling of other societies to build a single empire. The primary approach among commentators understands this process as the active cutting down and annihilation of many nations. Adding a layer of nuance, [רש״י] describes this destruction as a stripping or peeling away of these populations. Approaching the outcome from a different angle, [אבן עזרא] explains that the resulting disgrace will not be localized; rather, shame will attach itself to the oppressor from all corners of the earth, echoing the vast reach of their destructive actions.

Ultimately, the harshest consequence of these actions falls upon the perpetrator. The general consensus among commentators is that by harming others, an individual directly damages their own soul, ensuring their personal downfall. This self-inflicted harm is understood as a fundamental diminishing or hollowing out of the person's inner being [מצודת ציון]. Highlighting the bitter irony of this pursuit, [מלבי״ם] notes that the oppressor's original scheme was to wipe out countless nations along with a single wrongdoer. However, the tragic reality reveals that the wrongdoer doomed to be destroyed alongside those fallen nations is, in fact, the oppressor's own soul.