What is "Ra'ah Cholah"?
Rav Sadya Gaon, Ibn Ezra #2: It is Ra'ah Chalah (Seforno - it takes effect suddenly on him), like "Al Rosh Resha'im Yachul" (Yirmeyah 23:19).
Ibn Ezra #1: This is like "Nachlah Makasi" (Yirmeyah 10:19; it is painful 1 ). The verses still discuss superiority of working the land over all money.
R. Avigdor: The Gematriya of "Yesh Ra'ah Cholah" equals 2 that of Hine Yetzer ha'Ra.
Metzudas David: It is the most painful evil that I saw in the world.
Actually, it is one less. Perhaps the text should say 'the Gematriya of "Yesh Ra'ah" equals that of Yetzer ha'Ra; they are exactly equal. If so, perhaps these words truly belong below (6:1), unlike the Magihah in Toras Chayim. (PF)
What is "Osher Shamur li'V'alav l'Ra'aso"?
Rashi, from Pesachim 119a: An example is Korach's wealth 1 . Via it, he became haughty and descended to the pit.
Radak: It is wealth that afflicts its owner.
Rashbam: It is stored for the sake of its owner. However, he intended it for his good, and it was reversed for his evil. Sometimes he is killed or seized for his money!
Ri Kara: He gathers much money, and is not satiated from it in his lifetime, and later he dies, or the kingdom takes it, or robbers forcibly take it, or it is burned, or his ship sinks in the sea, like verse 13 hints to. For many years the wealth was guarded for him; he did not touch it, he lost sleep due to it, and in the end it was lost.
R. Avigdor: This is one who wants to get rich, and he does not tithe his 2 . It is bad for him - "Yesh Mis'asher v'Ein Kol" (Mishlei 13:7).
Seforno, Metzudas David: Strong-arms will make pretexts against him to steal the money, and sometimes to justify themselves they will harm his body 3 .
119a:"Ha'Yekum Asher b'Ragleihem" is one's money, which stands him on his feet.
The Torah explicitly obligates tithing grain, wine and oil of Eretz Yisrael; the Rambam obligates almost all foods mid'Oraisa. R. Avigdor implies that he discusses tithing money; many say that this is a Chiyuv mid'Rabanan. (PF)
How does this justify themselves? Perhaps normally, when they harm his body, he fights back, and they will say that since he fought them, they are entitled to take from him. (PF)
