איוב, פרק ט״ו, פסוק כ״ט

The fate of the wicked is defined by profound instability, particularly regarding their material achievements. The primary approach among commentators is that the assets and property of a corrupt person simply will not endure [אבן עזרא, מצודת ציון, רש״י, מלבי״ם]. Because their actions are rooted in malice, whatever wealth they gather is destined to be lost under bad circumstances long before they can truly enjoy it [מצודת דוד, מלבי״ם]. Some view this loss as a tragedy that strikes near the end of a person's life [רמב״ן]. Taking this a step further, [אלשיך] focuses on the exact moment of death. He explains that earthly wealth remains exactly where it is and never accompanies a person into the grave, meaning the wicked can no longer be considered wealthy at all.

The ultimate end of the wicked involves a complete inability to leave a lasting mark, a concept understood in two distinct ways. The first perspective focuses on the idea of finality and destruction [רש״י, מצודת ציון, רלב״ג, אבן עזרא, מלבי״ם]. According to this view, the punishment decreed for the wicked will not miss its mark or fall harmlessly to the ground. Instead, the judgment is absolute and will land directly on their heads [מצודת דוד, רש״י]. Furthermore, their sudden and total downfall ensures that their wealth has no chance to expand or grow across the land [מלבי״ם].

A second perspective understands this downfall in terms of what the wicked attempt to leave behind, focusing on the spreading and multiplying of their personal assets [רש״י, רמב״ן, שטיינזלץ, תקות אנוש, אלשיך]. In this context, the focus is on how their property fails to extend beyond their own ruin [רמב״ן, אבן עזרא]. Once the wicked lose their fortunes, absolutely nothing of their former wealth will remain to be passed on to others [שטיינזלץ]. They will be left without a single heir to take their place, erasing any memory of them from the world completely [תקות אנוש]. Connecting this back to the finality of death, [אלשיך] notes that not even a fraction of their earthly possessions will go down into the dust with them. Ultimately, even the very desires they prepared and hoped to fulfill will simply fail to materialize [רש״י].