1. Opening Question: What does the World tell us about God?
2. Psalm 104 in Music
a. Mordechai Shapiro, "Ashirah" (2022). Lyrics: Psalm 104:1, 24, 33
b. Yamma Ensemble, "Psalm 104" (2012)Lyrics: Psalm 104:1-5
3. Introductions to Psalm 104
3a. Biblical Accounts of Creation: Bereshit 1; Job 38-39
(א) בְּרֵאשִׁ֖ית בָּרָ֣א אֱלֹקִ֑ים אֵ֥ת הַשָּׁמַ֖יִם וְאֵ֥ת הָאָֽרֶץ׃ (ב) וְהָאָ֗רֶץ הָיְתָ֥ה תֹ֙הוּ֙ וָבֹ֔הוּ וְחֹ֖שֶׁךְ עַל־פְּנֵ֣י תְה֑וֹם וְר֣וּחַ אֱלֹקִ֔ים מְרַחֶ֖פֶת עַל־פְּנֵ֥י הַמָּֽיִם׃ (ג) וַיֹּ֥אמֶר אֱלֹקִ֖ים יְהִ֣י א֑וֹר וַֽיְהִי־אֽוֹר׃ (ד) וַיַּ֧רְא אֱלֹקִ֛ים אֶת־הָא֖וֹר כִּי־ט֑וֹב וַיַּבְדֵּ֣ל אֱלֹקִ֔ים בֵּ֥ין הָא֖וֹר וּבֵ֥ין הַחֹֽשֶׁךְ׃ (ה) וַיִּקְרָ֨א אֱלֹקִ֤ים ׀ לָאוֹר֙ י֔וֹם וְלַחֹ֖שֶׁךְ קָ֣רָא לָ֑יְלָה וַֽיְהִי־עֶ֥רֶב וַֽיְהִי־בֹ֖קֶר י֥וֹם אֶחָֽד׃ {פ} (ו) וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֱלֹקִ֔ים יְהִ֥י רָקִ֖יעַ בְּת֣וֹךְ הַמָּ֑יִם וִיהִ֣י מַבְדִּ֔יל בֵּ֥ין מַ֖יִם לָמָֽיִם׃ (ז) וַיַּ֣עַשׂ אֱלֹקִים֮ אֶת־הָרָקִ֒יעַ֒ וַיַּבְדֵּ֗ל בֵּ֤ין הַמַּ֙יִם֙ אֲשֶׁר֙ מִתַּ֣חַת לָרָקִ֔יעַ וּבֵ֣ין הַמַּ֔יִם אֲשֶׁ֖ר מֵעַ֣ל לָרָקִ֑יעַ וַֽיְהִי־כֵֽן׃ (ח) וַיִּקְרָ֧א אֱלֹקִ֛ים לָֽרָקִ֖יעַ שָׁמָ֑יִם וַֽיְהִי־עֶ֥רֶב וַֽיְהִי־בֹ֖קֶר י֥וֹם שֵׁנִֽי׃ {פ} (ט) וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֱלֹקִ֗ים יִקָּו֨וּ הַמַּ֜יִם מִתַּ֤חַת הַשָּׁמַ֙יִם֙ אֶל־מָק֣וֹם אֶחָ֔ד וְתֵרָאֶ֖ה הַיַּבָּשָׁ֑ה וַֽיְהִי־כֵֽן׃ (י) וַיִּקְרָ֨א אֱלֹקִ֤ים ׀ לַיַּבָּשָׁה֙ אֶ֔רֶץ וּלְמִקְוֵ֥ה הַמַּ֖יִם קָרָ֣א יַמִּ֑ים וַיַּ֥רְא אֱלֹקִ֖ים כִּי־טֽוֹב׃
(1) When God began to create heaven and earth— (2) the earth being unformed and void, with darkness over the surface of the deep and a wind from God sweeping over the water— (3) God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. (4) God saw that the light was good, and God separated the light from the darkness. (5) God called the light Day and called the darkness Night. And there was evening and there was morning, a first day. (6) God said, “Let there be an expanse in the midst of the water, that it may separate water from water.” (7) God made the expanse, and it separated the water which was below the expanse from the water which was above the expanse. And it was so. (8) God called the expanse Sky. And there was evening and there was morning, a second day. (9) God said, “Let the water below the sky be gathered into one area, that the dry land may appear.” And it was so. (10) God called the dry land Earth and called the gathering of waters Seas. And God saw that this was good.
(לא) וַיַּ֤רְא אֱלֹקִים֙ אֶת־כׇּל־אֲשֶׁ֣ר עָשָׂ֔ה וְהִנֵּה־ט֖וֹב מְאֹ֑ד וַֽיְהִי־עֶ֥רֶב וַֽיְהִי־בֹ֖קֶר י֥וֹם הַשִּׁשִּֽׁי׃ {פ}
(31) And God saw all that He had made, and found it very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.
(ד) אֵיפֹ֣ה הָ֭יִיתָ בְּיׇסְדִי־אָ֑רֶץ הַ֝גֵּ֗ד אִם־יָדַ֥עְתָּ בִינָֽה׃ (ה) מִי־שָׂ֣ם מְ֭מַדֶּיהָ כִּ֣י תֵדָ֑ע א֤וֹ מִֽי־נָטָ֖ה עָלֶ֣יהָ קָּֽו׃ (ו) עַל־מָ֭ה אֲדָנֶ֣יהָ הׇטְבָּ֑עוּ א֥וֹ מִי־יָ֝רָ֗ה אֶ֣בֶן פִּנָּתָֽהּ׃ (ז) בְּרׇן־יַ֭חַד כּ֣וֹכְבֵי בֹ֑קֶר וַ֝יָּרִ֗יעוּ כׇּל־בְּנֵ֥י אֱלֹקִֽים׃ (ח) וַיָּ֣סֶךְ בִּדְלָתַ֣יִם יָ֑ם בְּ֝גִיח֗וֹ מֵרֶ֥חֶם יֵצֵֽא׃ (ט) בְּשׂוּמִ֣י עָנָ֣ן לְבֻשׁ֑וֹ וַ֝עֲרָפֶ֗ל חֲתֻלָּתֽוֹ׃ (י) וָאֶשְׁבֹּ֣ר עָלָ֣יו חֻקִּ֑י וָ֝אָשִׂ֗ים בְּרִ֣יחַ וּדְלָתָֽיִם׃ (יא) וָאֹמַ֗ר עַד־פֹּ֣ה תָ֭בוֹא וְלֹ֣א תֹסִ֑יף וּפֹא־יָ֝שִׁ֗ית בִּגְא֥וֹן גַּלֶּֽיךָ׃
(4) Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundations?Speak if you have understanding. (5) Do you know who fixed its dimensionsOr who measured it with a line? (6) Onto what were its bases sunk?Who set its cornerstone (7) When the morning stars sang togetherAnd all the divine beings shouted for joy?(8) Who closed the sea behind doorsWhen it gushed forth out of the womb, (9) When I clothed it in clouds,Swaddled it in dense clouds, (10) When I made breakers My limit for it,And set up its bar and doors, (11) And said, “You may come so far and no farther;Here your surging waves will stop”?
(כז) אִם־עַל־פִּ֭יךָ יַגְבִּ֣יהַּ נָ֑שֶׁר וְ֝כִ֗י יָרִ֥ים קִנּֽוֹ׃ (כח) סֶ֣לַע יִ֭שְׁכֹּן וְיִתְלֹנָ֑ן עַ֥ל שֶׁן־סֶ֝֗לַע וּמְצוּדָֽה׃ (כט) מִשָּׁ֥ם חָֽפַר־אֹ֑כֶל לְ֝מֵרָח֗וֹק עֵינָ֥יו יַבִּֽיטוּ׃ (ל) וְאֶפְרֹחָ֥ו יְעַלְעוּ־דָ֑ם וּבַאֲשֶׁ֥ר חֲ֝לָלִ֗ים שָׁ֣ם הֽוּא׃ {פ}
(27) Does the eagle soar at your command,Building his nest high, (28) Dwelling in the rock,Lodging upon the fastness of a jutting rock? (29) From there he spies out his food;From afar his eyes see it. (30) His young gulp blood;Where the slain are, there is he.
3b. Structure of Psalm 104
According to Amos Hakham, Da'at Mikra series: Psalms, Introduction to Psalm 104 (transl. DR)
1. Light, skies, water, clouds, wind, fire, Earth (vv. 1-6)
2. Dry land, sea and rivers (vv. 7-12)
3. Fruits of the land, trees, birds, wild goats, rock-badgers on hills and in crags (vv. 13-18)
4. Sun, moon, day, and night (vv. 19-24)
5. Sea and all that is in it (vv. 25-26)
6. Cycles of destruction and renewal among animals (vv. 27-30)
7. The Creator's pleasure in His world corresponds to the Psalmist's joy in his God (vv. 31-35)
4. Our Text - Psalm 104
Questions to ponder
- How does the Psalmist react to the Creation?
- How is Psalm 104’s reaction distinct from those of Bereshit 1 and Job 38-39)?
- How do animals and people relate to God?
(א) בָּרְכִ֥י נַפְשִׁ֗י אֶת־ה' ה' אֱ֭לֹקַי גָּדַ֣לְתָּ מְּאֹ֑ד ה֖וֹד וְהָדָ֣ר לָבָֽשְׁתָּ׃ (ב) עֹֽטֶה־א֭וֹר כַּשַּׂלְמָ֑ה נוֹטֶ֥ה שָׁ֝מַ֗יִם כַּיְרִיעָֽה׃ (ג) הַ֥מְקָרֶ֥ה בַמַּ֗יִם עֲֽלִיּ֫וֹתָ֥יו הַשָּׂם־עָבִ֥ים רְכוּב֑וֹ הַֽ֝מְהַלֵּ֗ךְ עַל־כַּנְפֵי־רֽוּחַ׃ (ד) עֹשֶׂ֣ה מַלְאָכָ֣יו רוּח֑וֹת מְ֝שָׁרְתָ֗יו אֵ֣שׁ לֹהֵֽט׃ (ה) יָֽסַד־אֶ֭רֶץ עַל־מְכוֹנֶ֑יהָ בַּל־תִּ֝מּ֗וֹט עוֹלָ֥ם וָעֶֽד׃ (ו) תְּ֭הוֹם כַּלְּב֣וּשׁ כִּסִּית֑וֹ עַל־הָ֝רִ֗ים יַ֖עַמְדוּ מָֽיִם׃
(1) Bless the LORD, O my soul;O LORD, my God, You are very great;You are clothed in glory and majesty, (2) wrapped in a robe of light;You spread the heavens like a tent cloth. (3) He sets the rafters of His lofts in the waters,makes the clouds His chariot,moves on the wings of the wind. (4) He makes the winds His messengers,fiery flames His servants. (5) He established the earth on its foundations,so that it shall never totter. (6) You made the deep cover it as a garment;the waters stood above the mountains.
(ז) מִן־גַּעֲרָ֣תְךָ֣ יְנוּס֑וּן מִן־ק֥וֹל רַֽ֝עַמְךָ֗ יֵחָפֵזֽוּן׃ (ח) יַעֲל֣וּ הָ֭רִים יֵרְד֣וּ בְקָע֑וֹת אֶל־מְ֝ק֗וֹם זֶ֤ה ׀ יָסַ֬דְתָּ לָהֶֽם׃ (ט) גְּֽבוּל־שַׂ֭מְתָּ בַּל־יַעֲבֹר֑וּן בַּל־יְ֝שֻׁב֗וּן לְכַסּ֥וֹת הָאָֽרֶץ׃ (י) הַֽמְשַׁלֵּ֣חַ מַ֭עְיָנִים בַּנְּחָלִ֑ים בֵּ֥ין הָ֝רִ֗ים יְהַלֵּכֽוּן׃ (יא) יַ֭שְׁקוּ כׇּל־חַיְת֣וֹ שָׂדָ֑י יִשְׁבְּר֖וּ פְרָאִ֣ים צְמָאָֽם׃ (יב) עֲ֭לֵיהֶם עוֹף־הַשָּׁמַ֣יִם יִשְׁכּ֑וֹן מִבֵּ֥ין עֳ֝פָאיִ֗ם יִתְּנוּ־קֽוֹל׃
(7) They fled at Your blast,rushed away at the sound of Your thunder, (8) —mountains rising, valleys sinking—to the place You established for them. (9) You set bounds they must not passso that they never again cover the earth. (10) You make springs gush forth in torrents;they make their way between the hills, (11) giving drink to all the wild beasts;the wild asses slake their thirst. (12) The birds of the sky dwell beside themand sing among the foliage.
(יג) מַשְׁקֶ֣ה הָ֭רִים מֵעֲלִיּוֹתָ֑יו מִפְּרִ֥י מַ֝עֲשֶׂ֗יךָ תִּשְׂבַּ֥ע הָאָֽרֶץ׃ (יד) מַצְמִ֤יחַ חָצִ֨יר ׀ לַבְּהֵמָ֗ה וְ֭עֵשֶׂב לַעֲבֹדַ֣ת הָאָדָ֑ם לְה֥וֹצִיא לֶ֝֗חֶם מִן־הָאָֽרֶץ׃ (טו) וְיַ֤יִן ׀ יְשַׂמַּ֬ח לְֽבַב־אֱנ֗וֹשׁ לְהַצְהִ֣יל פָּנִ֣ים מִשָּׁ֑מֶן וְ֝לֶ֗חֶם לְֽבַב־אֱנ֥וֹשׁ יִסְעָֽד׃ (טז) יִ֭שְׂבְּעוּ עֲצֵ֣י ה' אַֽרְזֵ֥י לְ֝בָנ֗וֹן אֲשֶׁ֣ר נָטָֽע׃ (יז) אֲשֶׁר־שָׁ֭ם צִפֳּרִ֣ים יְקַנֵּ֑נוּ חֲ֝סִידָ֗ה בְּרוֹשִׁ֥ים בֵּיתָֽהּ׃ (יח) הָרִ֣ים הַ֭גְּבֹהִים לַיְּעֵלִ֑ים סְ֝לָעִ֗ים מַחְסֶ֥ה לַֽשְׁפַנִּֽים׃
(13) You water the mountains from Your lofts;the earth is sated from the fruit of Your work. (14) You make the grass grow for the cattle,and herbage for man’s laborthat he may get food out of the earth— (15) wine that cheers the hearts of men,oil that makes the face shine,-band bread that sustains man’s life. (16) The trees of the LORD drink their fill,the cedars of Lebanon, His own planting, (17) where birds make their nests;the stork has her home in the junipers. (18) The high mountains are for wild goats;the crags are a refuge for rock-badgers.
(יט) עָשָׂ֣ה יָ֭רֵחַ לְמוֹעֲדִ֑ים שֶׁ֝֗מֶשׁ יָדַ֥ע מְבוֹאֽוֹ׃ (כ) תָּֽשֶׁת־חֹ֭שֶׁךְ וִ֣יהִי לָ֑יְלָה בּוֹ־תִ֝רְמֹ֗שׂ כׇּל־חַיְתוֹ־יָֽעַר׃ (כא) הַ֭כְּפִירִים שֹׁאֲגִ֣ים לַטָּ֑רֶף וּלְבַקֵּ֖שׁ מֵאֵ֣ל אׇכְלָֽם׃ (כב) תִּזְרַ֣ח הַ֭שֶּׁמֶשׁ יֵאָסֵפ֑וּן וְאֶל־מְ֝עוֹנֹתָ֗ם יִרְבָּצֽוּן׃ (כג) יֵצֵ֣א אָדָ֣ם לְפׇעֳל֑וֹ וְֽלַעֲבֹ֖דָת֣וֹ עֲדֵי־עָֽרֶב׃ (כד) מָה־רַבּ֬וּ מַעֲשֶׂ֨יךָ ׀ ה' כֻּ֭לָּם בְּחׇכְמָ֣ה עָשִׂ֑יתָ מָלְאָ֥ה הָ֝אָ֗רֶץ קִנְיָנֶֽךָ׃
(19) He made the moon to mark the seasons;the sun knows when to set. (20) You bring on darkness and it is night,when all the beasts of the forests stir. (21) The lions roar for prey,seeking their food from God. (22) When the sun rises, they come homeand couch in their dens. (23) Man then goes out to his work,to his labor until the evening. (24) How many are the things You have made, O LORD;You have made them all with wisdom;the earth is full of Your creations.
(כה) זֶ֤ה ׀ הַיָּ֥ם גָּדוֹל֮ וּרְחַ֢ב יָ֫דָ֥יִם שָֽׁם־רֶ֭מֶשׂ וְאֵ֣ין מִסְפָּ֑ר חַיּ֥וֹת קְ֝טַנּ֗וֹת עִם־גְּדֹלֽוֹת׃ (כו) שָׁ֭ם אֳנִיּ֣וֹת יְהַלֵּכ֑וּן לִ֝וְיָתָ֗ן זֶֽה־יָצַ֥רְתָּ לְשַֽׂחֶק־בּֽוֹ׃
(25) There is the sea, vast and wide,with its creatures beyond number,living things, small and great. (26) There go the ships,and Leviathan that You formed to sport with.
(כז) כֻּ֭לָּם אֵלֶ֣יךָ יְשַׂבֵּר֑וּן לָתֵ֖ת אׇכְלָ֣ם בְּעִתּֽוֹ׃ (כח) תִּתֵּ֣ן לָ֭הֶם יִלְקֹט֑וּן תִּפְתַּ֥ח יָ֝דְךָ֗ יִשְׂבְּע֥וּן טֽוֹב׃ (כט) תַּסְתִּ֥יר פָּנֶיךָ֮ יִֽבָּהֵ֫ל֥וּן תֹּסֵ֣ף ר֭וּחָם יִגְוָע֑וּן וְֽאֶל־עֲפָרָ֥ם יְשׁוּבֽוּן׃ (ל) תְּשַׁלַּ֣ח ר֭וּחֲךָ יִבָּרֵא֑וּן וּ֝תְחַדֵּ֗שׁ פְּנֵ֣י אֲדָמָֽה׃
(27) All of them look to Youto give them their food when it is due. (28) Give it to them, they gather it up;open Your hand, they are well satisfied; (29) hide Your face, they are terrified;take away their breath, they perishand turn again into dust; (30) send back Your breath, they are created,and You renew the face of the earth.
(לא) יְהִ֤י כְב֣וֹד ה' לְעוֹלָ֑ם יִשְׂמַ֖ח ה' בְּמַעֲשָֽׂיו׃ (לב) הַמַּבִּ֣יט לָ֭אָרֶץ וַתִּרְעָ֑ד יִגַּ֖ע בֶּהָרִ֣ים וְֽיֶעֱשָֽׁנוּ׃ (לג) אָשִׁ֣ירָה לַה' בְּחַיָּ֑י אֲזַמְּרָ֖ה לֵאלֹקַ֣י בְּעוֹדִֽי׃ (לד) יֶעֱרַ֣ב עָלָ֣יו שִׂיחִ֑י אָ֝נֹכִ֗י אֶשְׂמַ֥ח בַּה'׃ (לה) יִתַּ֤מּוּ חַטָּאִ֨ים ׀ מִן־הָאָ֡רֶץ וּרְשָׁעִ֤ים ׀ ע֤וֹד אֵינָ֗ם בָּרְכִ֣י נַ֭פְשִׁי אֶת־ה' הַֽלְלוּ־יָֽהּ׃ {פ}
(31) May the glory of the LORD endure forever;may the LORD rejoice in His works! (32) He looks at the earth and it trembles;He touches the mountains and they smoke.(33) I will sing to the LORD as long as I live;all my life I will chant hymns to my God. (34) May my prayer be pleasing to Him;I will rejoice in the LORD. (35) May sinners disappear from the earth,and the wicked be no more.Bless the LORD, O my soul.Hallelujah.
5. Commentaries
[5a. Commentary: Psalm 104 in Liturgy]
- Chapter as a whole - recited in some traditions on Rosh Chodesh (because of v. 19 concerning the moon and the sun)
- Verses 1-2 - recited by some before putting on the tallit
- Verse 14, end - source for the blessing before eating bread
- Verse 24 - quoted in the first blessing before the Shema in the morning
5b. Overview
Adele Berlin & Marc Zvi Brettler, The Jewish Study Bible, Commentary to Psalm 104, Introductory Comment
In praise of the Creator of a perfect world. The creation, an ecological harmony in which all are provided for, is an ideal world in which evil has no place. Structured on Genesis chapter 1, but incorporating various other creation traditions, the description is highly poetic.
It resembles both the divine catalog of creation in Job chapters 38-39 (which is more exotic and less idyllic) and the Egyptian "Hymn to Aten (the sun god)"
(לא) הַֽ֭תְקַשֵּׁר מַעֲדַנּ֣וֹת כִּימָ֑ה אֽוֹ־מֹשְׁכ֖וֹת כְּסִ֣יל תְּפַתֵּֽחַ׃ (לב) הֲתֹצִ֣יא מַזָּר֣וֹת בְּעִתּ֑וֹ וְ֝עַ֗יִשׁ עַל־בָּנֶ֥יהָ תַנְחֵֽם׃
(31) Can you tie cords to PleiadesOr undo the reins of Orion? (32) Can you lead out Mazzaroth in its season,Conduct the Bear with her sons?
(כ) תָּֽשֶׁת־חֹ֭שֶׁךְ וִ֣יהִי לָ֑יְלָה בּוֹ־תִ֝רְמֹ֗שׂ כׇּל־חַיְתוֹ־יָֽעַר׃ (כא) הַ֭כְּפִירִים שֹׁאֲגִ֣ים לַטָּ֑רֶף וּלְבַקֵּ֖שׁ מֵאֵ֣ל אׇכְלָֽם׃
(20) You bring on darkness and it is night,when all the beasts of the forests stir. (21) The lions roar for prey,seeking their food from God.
The Hymn to the Aton (the sun disk) (early 14th century BCE Egypt), in James B. Pritchard, ed., Ancient Near Eastern Texts Relating to the Old Testament, Princeton, 1969, pp. 369-371
Compare to our psalm, verses 20-21
When thou settest in the western horizon,
The land is in darkness, in the manner of death.
They sleep in a room, with head wrapped up,
Nor sees one eye the other.
All their goods which are under their heads might be stolen,
(But) they would not perceive (it).
Every lion is come forth from his den;
All creeping things, they sting.
Darkness is a shroud, and the earth is in stillness,
For he who made them rests in his horizon.
5c. The Structure of the Cosmos (vv. 1-9)
(א) בָּרְכִ֥י נַפְשִׁ֗י אֶת־ה' ה' אֱ֭לֹקַי גָּדַ֣לְתָּ מְּאֹ֑ד ה֖וֹד וְהָדָ֣ר לָבָֽשְׁתָּ׃ (ב) עֹֽטֶה־א֭וֹר כַּשַּׂלְמָ֑ה נוֹטֶ֥ה שָׁ֝מַ֗יִם כַּיְרִיעָֽה׃ (ג) הַ֥מְקָרֶ֥ה בַמַּ֗יִם עֲֽלִיּ֫וֹתָ֥יו הַשָּׂם־עָבִ֥ים רְכוּב֑וֹ הַֽ֝מְהַלֵּ֗ךְ עַל־כַּנְפֵי־רֽוּחַ׃ (ד) עֹשֶׂ֣ה מַלְאָכָ֣יו רוּח֑וֹת מְ֝שָׁרְתָ֗יו אֵ֣שׁ לֹהֵֽט׃ (ה) יָֽסַד־אֶ֭רֶץ עַל־מְכוֹנֶ֑יהָ בַּל־תִּ֝מּ֗וֹט עוֹלָ֥ם וָעֶֽד׃ (ו) תְּ֭הוֹם כַּלְּב֣וּשׁ כִּסִּית֑וֹ עַל־הָ֝רִ֗ים יַ֖עַמְדוּ מָֽיִם׃ (ז) מִן־גַּעֲרָ֣תְךָ֣ יְנוּס֑וּן מִן־ק֥וֹל רַֽ֝עַמְךָ֗ יֵחָפֵזֽוּן׃ (ח) יַעֲל֣וּ הָ֭רִים יֵרְד֣וּ בְקָע֑וֹת אֶל־מְ֝ק֗וֹם זֶ֤ה ׀ יָסַ֬דְתָּ לָהֶֽם׃ (ט) גְּֽבוּל־שַׂ֭מְתָּ בַּל־יַעֲבֹר֑וּן בַּל־יְ֝שֻׁב֗וּן לְכַסּ֥וֹת הָאָֽרֶץ׃
(1) Bless the LORD, O my soul;O LORD, my God, You are very great;You are clothed in glory and majesty, (2) wrapped in a robe of light;You spread the heavens like a tent cloth. (3) He sets the rafters of His lofts in the waters,makes the clouds His chariot,moves on the wings of the wind. (4) He makes the winds His messengers,fiery flames His servants. (5) He established the earth on its foundations,so that it shall never totter. (6) You made the deep cover it as a garment;the waters stood above the mountains. (7) They fled at Your blast,rushed away at the sound of Your thunder, (8) —mountains rising, valleys sinking—to the place You established for them. (9) You set bounds they must not passso that they never again cover the earth.
Found at https://aleteia.org/2016/07/07/when-the-earth-was-flat-a-map-of-the-universe-according-to-the-old-testament/, visited 1/6/2023.
(כב) הַיֹּשֵׁב֙ עַל־ח֣וּג הָאָ֔רֶץ וְיֹשְׁבֶ֖יהָ כַּחֲגָבִ֑ים הַנּוֹטֶ֤ה כַדֹּק֙ שָׁמַ֔יִם וַיִּמְתָּחֵ֥ם כָּאֹ֖הֶל לָשָֽׁבֶת׃
(22) It is He who is enthroned above the vault of the earth,So that its inhabitants seem as grasshoppers;Who spread out the skies like gauze,Stretched them out like a tent to dwell in.
5d. People in God's Creation
(יד) מַצְמִ֤יחַ חָצִ֨יר ׀ לַבְּהֵמָ֗ה וְ֭עֵשֶׂב לַעֲבֹדַ֣ת הָאָדָ֑ם לְה֥וֹצִיא לֶ֝֗חֶם מִן־הָאָֽרֶץ׃ (טו) וְיַ֤יִן ׀ יְשַׂמַּ֬ח לְֽבַב־אֱנ֗וֹשׁ לְהַצְהִ֣יל פָּנִ֣ים מִשָּׁ֑מֶן וְ֝לֶ֗חֶם לְֽבַב־אֱנ֥וֹשׁ יִסְעָֽד׃
(14) You make the grass grow for the cattle,and herbage for man’s laborthat he may get food out of the earth— (15) wine that cheers the hearts of men,oil that makes the face shine,-band bread that sustains man’s life.
(כג) יֵצֵ֣א אָדָ֣ם לְפׇעֳל֑וֹ וְֽלַעֲבֹ֖דָת֣וֹ עֲדֵי־עָֽרֶב׃
(23) Man then goes out to his work,to his labor until the evening.
(ד) כִּֽי־אֶרְאֶ֣ה שָׁ֭מֶיךָ מַעֲשֵׂ֣ה אֶצְבְּעֹתֶ֑יךָ יָרֵ֥חַ וְ֝כוֹכָבִ֗ים אֲשֶׁ֣ר כּוֹנָֽנְתָּה׃ (ה) מָה־אֱנ֥וֹשׁ כִּֽי־תִזְכְּרֶ֑נּוּ וּבֶן־אָ֝דָ֗ם כִּ֣י תִפְקְדֶֽנּוּ׃ (ו) וַתְּחַסְּרֵ֣הוּ מְּ֭עַט מֵאֱלֹקִ֑ים וְכָב֖וֹד וְהָדָ֣ר תְּעַטְּרֵֽהוּ׃ (ז) תַּ֭מְשִׁילֵהוּ בְּמַעֲשֵׂ֣י יָדֶ֑יךָ כֹּ֝֗ל שַׁ֣תָּה תַֽחַת־רַגְלָֽיו׃
(4) When I behold Your heavens, the work of Your fingers,the moon and stars that You set in place, (5) what is man that You have been mindful of him,mortal man that You have taken note of him, (6) that You have made him little less than divine,and adorned him with glory and majesty; (7) You have made him master over Your handiwork,laying the world at his feet,
(כו) שָׁ֭ם אֳנִיּ֣וֹת יְהַלֵּכ֑וּן לִ֝וְיָתָ֗ן זֶֽה־יָצַ֥רְתָּ לְשַֽׂחֶק־בּֽוֹ׃
(26) There go the ships,and Leviathan that You formed to sport with.
5e. Playfulness
(כו) שָׁ֭ם אֳנִיּ֣וֹת יְהַלֵּכ֑וּן לִ֝וְיָתָ֗ן זֶֽה־יָצַ֥רְתָּ לְשַֽׂחֶק־בּֽוֹ׃
(26) There go the ships,and Leviathan that You formed to sport with.
Rabbanit Leah Sarna, Associate Director of Education and Director of High School Programs, Drisha Institute for Jewish Education.
The Talmud Bavli in Avodah Zara 3b describes how God passes the twelve hours of daytime, divided into sections of three hours each. For the first part, God studies Torah. Second, God judges the entire world, at first while sitting in the throne of judgement but ultimately moving over to the throne of mercy. Third, God provides sustenance to all living beings. Fourth, God makes sport with the Leviathan, citing Psalm 104. The Talmud goes on to debate whether it is appropriate for God to still play, now that the Temple has been destroyed.
This is a study in the well-balanced life. The Talmud believes that humans are meant to imitate the Divine as best we are able, and here the Talmud lays out God’s day as a model: equal parts Torah study, cognitive work, practical work and play. Play is not relegated to the nighttime, it is not put into the box of “theoretically important but I’m too busy,” and it is not left to children -- no, God, at least up until the Temple was destroyed, spends a full quarter of the day engaged in play. ...
The place of the Leviathan in Psalm 104’s celebration of the patterns of creation teaches us that play needs to be a set part of our calendar.
Source: https://www.929.org.il/lang/en/page/671/post/88376, visited 1/6/2023
5f. Creation and Praise (vv. 34-35)
(לד) יֶעֱרַ֣ב עָלָ֣יו שִׂיחִ֑י אָ֝נֹכִ֗י אֶשְׂמַ֥ח בַּה׳׃ (לה) יִתַּ֤מּוּ חַטָּאִ֨ים ׀ מִן־הָאָ֡רֶץ וּרְשָׁעִ֤ים ׀ ע֤וֹד אֵינָ֗ם בָּרְכִ֣י נַ֭פְשִׁי אֶת־ה׳ הַֽלְלוּ־יָֽהּ׃ {פ}
(34) May my prayer be pleasing to Him;I will rejoice in the LORD. (35) May sinners disappear from the earth,and the wicked be no more.Bless the LORD, O my soul.Hallelujah.
Amos Hakham, Commentary, note to v. 35 (translated by DR)
"Bless the Lord, O my soul" - The Psalmist concludes the Psalm with the same language with which he opened it. He intimates that when the wicked are gone, Creation will reach its completion. The blessing that had been declared for the Creator in response to the six days of Creation will again be declared wholeheartedly.
5g. Beruriah's peaceful reading of v. 35 - "Sinners" or "Sins"?
(לה) יִתַּ֤מּוּ חַטָּאִ֨ים ׀ מִן־הָאָ֡רֶץ וּרְשָׁעִ֤ים ׀ ע֤וֹד אֵינָ֗ם בָּרְכִ֣י נַ֭פְשִׁי אֶת־ה' הַֽלְלוּ־יָֽהּ׃ {פ}
(35) May sinners/ hatta'im disappear from the earth,and the wicked be no more.Bless the LORD, O my soul.Hallelujah.
הָנְהוּ בִּרְיוֹנֵי דַּהֲווֹ בְּשִׁבָבוּתֵיהּ דְּרַבִּי מֵאִיר וַהֲווֹ קָא מְצַעֲרוּ לֵיהּ טוּבָא. הֲוָה קָא בָּעֵי רַבִּי מֵאִיר רַחֲמֵי עִלָּוַיְהוּ כִּי הֵיכִי דְּלֵימוּתוּ.
אָמְרָה לֵיהּ בְּרוּרְיָא דְּבֵיתְהוּ: מַאי דַּעְתָּךְ — מִשּׁוּם דִּכְתִיב ״יִתַּמּוּ חַטָּאִים״, מִי כְּתִיב ״חוֹטְאִים״? ״חַטָּאִים״ כְּתִיב. וְעוֹד, שְׁפֵיל לְסֵיפֵיהּ דִּקְרָא ״וּרְשָׁעִים עוֹד אֵינָם״, כֵּיוָן דְּ״יִתַּמּוּ חַטָּאִים״ ״וּרְשָׁעִים עוֹד אֵינָם״? אֶלָּא בְּעִי רַחֲמֵי עִלָּוַיְהוּ דְּלַהְדְּרוּ בִּתְשׁוּבָה, ״וּרְשָׁעִים עוֹד אֵינָם״.
בְּעָא רַחֲמֵי עִלָּוַיְהוּ, וַהֲדַרוּ בִּתְשׁוּבָה.
Sefaria translation adapted by DR
There were these hooligans in Rabbi Meir’s neighborhood who caused him a great deal of anguish. Rabbi Meir prayed that they should die.
Berurya, his wife, said to him: What is your reasoning? On what basis do you pray for the death of these hooligans? Do you base yourself on the verse, as it is written: “Let חַטָּאִים / hatta'im cease from the land” (Psalms 104:35), which you interpret to mean that the world would be better if the wicked were destroyed? But is it written, let חוֹטְאִים / hot'im / sinners cease?” It is written "let חֲטָאִים / hata'im / sins cease!" One should pray for an end to their transgressions, not for the demise of the transgressors themselves. Moreover, go to the end of the verse, where it says: “And they won't be wicked any more.” If, as you suggest, transgressions shall cease refers to the demise of the evildoers, how is it possible that they won't be wicked any more? Rather, pray that they should repent, for if they repent, then "they won't be wicked any more."
Rabbi Meir prayed for them, and they repented.
Other connections from my students:
Psalm 104:28 reminds us of Psalm 145:16 (from "Ashrei"):
(טז) פּוֹתֵ֥חַ אֶת־יָדֶ֑ךָ וּמַשְׂבִּ֖יעַ לְכׇל־חַ֣י רָצֽוֹן׃
(16) You give it openhandedly, feeding every creature to its heart’s content.
The Aleinu prayer dwells on similar themes of creation:
(א) ... מֶֽלֶךְ מַלְכֵי הַמְּ֒לָכִים הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא, שֶׁהוּא נוֹטֶה שָׁמַֽיִם וְיוֹסֵד אָֽרֶץ, וּמוֹשַׁב יְקָרוֹ בַּשָּׁמַֽיִם מִמַּֽעַל, וּשְׁ֒כִינַת עֻזּוֹ בְּגָבְ֒הֵי מְרוֹמִים, הוּא אֱלֺקֵֽינוּ אֵין עוֹד, אֱמֶת מַלְכֵּֽנוּ אֶֽפֶס זוּלָתוֹ כַּכָּתוּב בְּתוֹרָתוֹ וְיָדַעְתָּ הַיּוֹם וַהֲשֵׁבֹתָ אֶל לְבָבֶֽךָ כִּי ה׳ הוּא הָאֱלֺקִים בַּשָּׁמַֽיִם מִמַּֽעַל וְעַל הָאָֽרֶץ מִתָּֽחַת אֵין עוֹד:
(1) ... the Supreme King of Kings, the Holy One blessed is He, Who spreads the heavens, and establishes the earth, and the seat of His glory is in heaven above, and the abode of His invincible might is in the loftiest heights. He is our God, there is nothing else. Our King is true, all else is insignificant, as it is written in His Torah: And You shall know this day and take into Your heart that Adonoy is God in the heavens above and upon the earth below; there is nothing else.