THE SONG OF THE RIVERS
The rivers sing of joyous future redemption.
[Song 9] Rivers (Ch. 1)
נַהֲרוֹת אוֹמְרִים. נְהָרוֹת יִמְחֲאוּ כָף יַחַד הָרִים יְרַנֵּנוּ (תהילים צח ח)
The Rivers are saying: Let the rivers clap their hands, let the mountains sing for joy together!”
Commentary
The river’s song is part of the joyous depiction of the forthcoming redemption,
when Hashem will rectify the world with justice. Then, rivers will seem to
excitedly clap hands as they stream down the mountainsides. To a smaller
degree, they sing of Hashem’s dominion which is apparent even today.
The rivers show a profound lesson. Although the waters of the river flow
downhill, which could be considered a lessening of their strength and
importance, they nonetheless do so happily, irrigating the land and fulfilling
their purpose. So too, we should be willing to humble ourselves in order to
fulfill the will of our Creator and help people. Even if it involves compromising
personal accomplishment, we should do so happily, with the liveliness of the
clapping river.
LIVING WITH THE SONG
The song of the rivers is recited in Kabbalas Shabbos. It is part of a vivid description of the joyous forthcoming
Final Redemption. The world will then seem to be exuding joy. The rivers will seem to clap hands as they stream
with happy confidence and the mountains will appear to stand in praise. The rivers are fittingly grouped together
with mountains as they tend to run downhill. They therefore form a united scene of praise.
The rivers show a profound lesson. The waters of the river flow away from their heavenly source, yet do so
happily, irrigating the land and fulfilling their purpose. So too one who has to humble himself to fulfill the will of
his Creator and help people even sometimes compromising personal accomplishment. This we find by Moshe
Rabbeinu who lost entry to Eretz Yisrael by leading the nation and by Mordechai who lost some of his Torah
academic stature by busying himself with the needs of the nation. When one does so with joy to fulfill the will of
Hashem, he expresses the song of the clapping river.
Inspirational commentary By Shmuel Ben-Tzion Kraines author of
The Song of Existence.