תהלים, פרק קמ״ח, פסוק ג׳

The largest and brightest celestial bodies are summoned to join a grand choir of praise directed toward God. The heavenly system operates as more than just a collection of physical objects; it functions as a deep spiritual hierarchy where luminaries draw their strength from higher sources. Although the sun and the moon are positioned in the second firmament of the heavens, their actual power to shine and their permission to cast light upon the earth originate from a much higher spiritual dimension known as Zevul. They ascend to this elevated realm to receive their vast abundance of light [אלשיך, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. This celestial system also carries a profound symbolic connection to the ancestors of the nation. Jacob, who established the evening prayer, is symbolically compared to the sun, while his wife Rachel is likened to the moon [אלשיך].

Beyond the sun and the moon, the call to praise extends to the remaining shining stars, completing the gathering of every illuminating force in the sky [אלשיך]. There are different perspectives on the exact identity of these specific stars. One approach identifies them as the five most prominent planets: Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn. Together with the sun and the moon, they form the seven central luminaries of the heavens. They are specifically highlighted because their brightness is significantly stronger than that of ordinary stars [מצודת דוד, מאירי]. Conversely, another perspective suggests that this simply refers to the regular stars of the night sky [רש״י]. In this view, the emphasis on their light does not single out a unique group of planets. Instead, it highlights the very act of shining, teaching that the glow emitted by these stars is fundamentally and legally recognized as true light in every respect [תורה תמימה, ביאור שטיינזלץ].