These words mean that the punishment of the impious will be similar to the massacre of the Sodomites. “Their roots dry beneath, and their branches wither above” so that nothing useful to the impious may remain anywhere, beneath or above the ground.
When he has been taken from his house, the dead man's domestics remain with whom he had society in this life, and as to this he then says, "May the companions of the one who no longer lives," that is, of the dead man who now takes no more part in human affairs, "inhabit his tent." When the master dies the members of the household mourn and show signs of sadness, either wearing black and poor garments, or by offensive odors and he expresses this when he says, "let sulphur be sprinkled in his tent." In this text, one understands all those things which can be signs of sadness, just as good odors are used for a sign of rejoicing.
[AD 373] Ephrem the Syrian on Job 18:15-16