Gregory the Dialogist

Before I go whence I shall not return, even to a land of darkness, and covered with the shadow of death. For what is denoted by 'the land of darkness' saving the dreary caverns of Tartarus, which are covered by the shadow of eternal death, in that it keeps all the damned for evermore severed from the light of life. Neither is the place below improperly called a land. For all they that have been made captive by it, are held fast and firm. …

Morals on the Book of Job, Book IX ↗

Thomas Aquinas

But one could object: On the contrary you should rather be afflicted here for a little time so that when you go from here, you will find consolation. This can be interpreted in two ways. In one way by returning a second time to this life. He excludes this saying, "Before I go away," in death, "and I do not return to live," again. This can be explained in two ways. In one way it means that he is not to return to the same kind of life as some have falsely maintained. …

Commentary on Job ↗