תהלים, פרק ק״ד, פסוק כ׳

The transition between day and night is not merely a natural phenomenon, but a deliberate act by God designed to maintain a delicate balance across all of creation. After the sun sets, God brings forth the darkness and establishes the precise boundaries of the night [רש"י, מצודת דוד, אבן עזרא].

This darkness serves a clear and essential purpose in the natural world. God created a specific window of time for beasts of prey, which are naturally nocturnal, to wander and search for their food [רד"ק, מלבי"ם, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Because wild animals possess an instinctual fear of humanity, they remain hidden within their own territories during the daylight hours. The cover of night provides them with vital shelter, allowing them to roam freely and safely without the dread of humans, who are no longer outdoors during these hours [רד"ק, אלשיך, מצודת דוד, מאירי].

This divine division of time also works directly for the benefit of humanity and domesticated animals. While wild predators are active in the dark, humans and their flocks are able to safely sleep and recover from the exhaustion of their daily labor [רד"ק].

Beyond the literal workings of nature, a deeper allegorical approach views this nighttime activity as a reflection of human existence. In this sense, the night and its darkness symbolize the current world we live in, while the wild animals creeping through the shadows represent the wicked individuals who operate within it [תורה תמימה].