What authority does man lack over Ru'ach?
Rav Sadya Gaon: He cannot hold it and bind it.
Rashi citing Koheles Rabah: Man does not rule over the Ru'ach 1 of Hashem's Shali'ach (the angel of death), to stop him from taking man's Ru'ach.
Ibn Ezra: It is to lock it [to block it removal at the time of death. Therefore, even if he knew when he will die, it would not help him.] This supports what I said [in the introduction to this Sefer], that it is as if the Ru'ach is incarcerated.
Rashbam: He does not rule over his Neshamah, to stop the angel of death from taking it on the day of his death. "Lichlo" is to prevent, like "va'Yikalei ha'Am me'Havi" (Shemos 36:6), "Lo Sichleh Rachamecha" (Tehilim 40:12).
Ri Kara: He cannot detain the Ru'ach. "Lichlo" is like "v'Es Bneihem Kalu va'Bayis" (Shmuel I, 6:10).
Rid: Just like man does not rule over his Ru'ach to incarcerate 2 it, there is no authority to save man on the day of his death, and weapons do not give victory in war; rather, everything is from Shamayim.
Seforno: Once ruin begins, that man's Yetzer seizes him, he cannot be careful.
R. Avigdor: This is like "Oseh Mal'achav Ruchos" (Tehilim 104:4). Metzudas David - Ru'ach is desire. He cannot block the desire of Hashem's Shali'ach to take his Neshamah.
Metzudas Tziyon: "Lichlo" is like Beis ha'Kele (jail).
What do we learn from "v'Ein Shilton b'Yom ha'Maves"?
Rashi citing Koheles Rabah: No king's authority is recognized on the day of his death. It says "va'Yikrevu Yemei David Lamus" (Melachim I, 2:1) - he is not called ha'Melech.
Ibn Ezra: A king's kingship cannot [save his Ru'ach] on the day of his death.
Refer to 8:8:1:4, 6.
R. Avigdor: One has no authority to tell the angel of death 'wait for me, until I command my house.'
Seforno: The power of intellect cannot oppose and defeat [the power of] desire on a day of ruin and Aveirah [when his Yetzer seized him].
What is "Mishlachas b'Milchamah"?
Rav Sadya Gaon: They are war weapons 1 . Ibn Ezra #1 - this is like "v'Chayaso me'Avor ba'Shalach" (Iyov 33:18). Rid - it is like "v'Ish Shilcho v'Yado" (Divrei ha'Yamim II, 23:10).
Rashi citing Koheles Rabah: It is a substitute in this war [against the angel of death. He cannot send his son or slave in place of him.]
Ibn Ezra #2: Milchamah is the war against illnesses that enter the body. If this weakens, man dies.
Rashbam: He cannot send his soldiers to combat the angel of death to stop it from taking his Neshamah.
Metzudas David: They will not help to save from death. Rid - they do not give victory in war; rather, it depends on Shamayim.
What Resha will not enable its owner to escape?
Rav Sadya Gaon: It is force and tyranny.
Ibn Ezra #1: It is great motion and contention, like "uv'Chol Asher Yifneh Yarshi'a" (Shmuel I, 14:47).
Ibn Ezra #2: It is money that was gathered mostly via evil.
Rashbam: The evil that he did. Ri Kara - had the verse not said Resha, I would have said that also good deeds will not save from death. It says Resha, to teach that evil will not save, but "u'Tzedakah Tatzil mi'Maves" (Mishlei 10:2).
Seforno: It is zeal for money and stinginess. Even stinginess cannot save from overpowering of desire once it began to make him stumble, even though he will lose much money.
Metzudas David, Metzudas Tziyon: It is fear and panic. A strong-arm's strength instills terror on one who stands in front of him. This will not help against Hashem's Shali'ach to take his Nefesh.
