תהלים, פרק קמ״ח, פסוק ט׳

A grand call to praise God unfolds systematically, descending from the weather patterns of the atmosphere down to the solid earth, while simultaneously ascending from the simplest forms of creation to the more complex. The progression begins with the element of earth and the inanimate world, embodied by mountains and hills [רד״ק, מלבי״ם, מאירי, אלשיך]. These two landforms play distinct roles. Mountains are the large, permanent formations of the earth [רד״ק]. Their Hebrew name is rooted in the concept of pregnancy, as they are essentially pregnant with various metals hidden deep within them [אבן עזרא]. Hills, by contrast, are simply lower elevations [מצודת דוד] that do not hold these hidden metals [אבן עזרא]. The way these silent, inanimate structures praise God is through their essential function in sustaining life. Wherever underground waters threaten to rise and flood the earth, God placed a mountain or a hill as a firm barrier. By protecting and maintaining the world, they offer constant praise to their Creator [אלשיך].

From the solid earth, the call to praise moves up a level to the plant kingdom, represented by fruit trees and cedars [רד״ק, מלבי״ם]. This creates a clear division in the natural world. Fruit trees naturally represent all plants that yield a harvest [מצודת דוד]. Cedars stand in for the entire category of barren trees that do not produce fruit [אבן עזרא, מלבי״ם, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. The cedar is specifically chosen to represent this group because it is the largest and most prominent of all trees [רד״ק]. The plant kingdom offers its praise to God through its spiritual destiny and its partnership with humanity. Fruit trees enable people to bless God and fulfill agricultural commandments, such as offering the first fruits, special portions, and tithes. Meanwhile, the barren cedar trees achieve a unique glory of their own, as their wood was chosen to build the Tabernacle and the Temple [אלשיך].