תהלים, פרק קי״ד, פסוק ד׳

The dramatic reaction of nature to the appearance of God's presence is expressed through a profound shaking of the earth. The primary approach among commentators is that this intense movement refers to the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai, where the mountains trembled out of deep fear of God's glory [אבן עזרא, מצודת דוד, מאירי]. However, this movement is also seen as a hint to other miracles that occurred during the Israelites' journey, such as the splitting of rocks to bring forth water in the desert, or the wonders that took place at Mount Hor [מלבי״ם, מאירי].

The landscape did not simply vibrate; it physically leaped and jumped [מצודת ציון]. Furthermore, Mount Sinai did not tremble alone. The surrounding terrain was entirely caught up in the event, with all the nearby mountains and hills shaking alongside it [רד״ק]. A striking visual parallel is drawn between the size of the landforms and the types of leaping animals. The massive mountains jumped like large rams, while the smaller hills—which are lower in height and lack the sharp peaks of true mountains [רד״ק, מאירי]—skipped like young, small sheep [מלבי״ם].