Rabbi Elazar said: “Surely, their substance was eradicated” (Job 22:20) – initially, the Holy One blessed be He eliminated their wealth, so they would not say: He needs our wealth. “And their wealth was consumed by fire” (Job 22:20) – [meaning] that they would see chunks of gold melting in the fire. Rabbi Akiva said: Everyone reproached them [the Israelites] over the gold and silver that they took with them from Egypt, as it is stated: “Your silver has become dross” (Isaiah 1:22); “and I lavished upon her silver and the gold they used for the Baal” (Hosea 2:10); “With their silver and gold they crafted for themselves idols, so that it will be eliminated” (Hosea 8:4).23As discussed earlier, excessive wealth and decadence lead men astray.
Rav Huna and Rabbi Yirmeya in the name of Rabbi Shmuel bar Rav Yitzḥak: It is not written here, “so that they would be eliminated,” but rather, “so that it will be eliminated”24Referring to their great wealth of gold and silver. – like a person who says: May the name of so-and-so be obliterated because he caused my son to stray onto an evil path.25May the gold and silver be eliminated because they caused sin.