תהלים, פרק נ״ח, פסוק י״א

The reaction of a good person to the downfall of evildoers is not one of sadness, but of profound joy. This gladness serves as a direct contrast to the silence of justice experienced earlier. When God releases His anger upon those who do evil, the silence breaks, and the joy of the righteous erupts [אבן עזרא, רד״ק, מאירי].

The experience of witnessing this divine justice is understood in different ways. The primary approach among commentators is that this is a physical event, where a person literally sees God's vengeance unfold before their very eyes [מצודת ציון, מצודת דוד]. However, others suggest this vision is internal rather than physical. In this view, vengeance is an abstract concept, and the righteous person perceives it spiritually and logically within their heart and mind [מלבי״ם].

Rejoicing over another person's death might seem unusual. Originally, there was only a desire to weaken the wicked, but the Holy Spirit reveals that their ultimate downfall is actually a positive outcome. When a righteous person witnesses the punishment of the wicked, they take the event to heart. It serves as a powerful moral lesson, prompting them to purify their own character and reach a higher level of righteousness [אלשיך].

The dramatic description of stepping through the blood of the wicked is a vivid way to portray the aftermath of this justice. On a simple level, it suggests that so much blood will be spilled on the ground that a person will inevitably walk through it [מצודת ציון, ביאור שטיינזלץ, מאירי, מצודת דוד]. This is generally viewed as a poetic exaggeration meant to highlight the sheer intensity of the vengeance [מאירי]. Conversely, following the idea of learning a moral lesson, this washing is not physical at all. Instead, it symbolizes the righteous person cleansing their own steps and moving away from bad deeds after seeing the fate of the wicked [אלשיך].

This concept is brought to life in a historical event surrounding the burial of Jacob. When Esau attempted to stop the burial in the Cave of Machpelah, Hushim the son of Dan struck Esau on the head. Esau's eyes fell upon Jacob's feet. At that moment, Jacob opened his eyes, saw what had happened, and smiled. This event captures the essence of a righteous person rejoicing at the sight of justice, with his feet coming into direct contact with the remains of the wicked [תורה תמימה].