קול ד' על המים
– Kol Hashem al ha’mayim.
The Voice of Hashem is on the waters.
Seven kolos, voices, are enumerated in this mizmor, psalm. Varied commentaries address the seven kolos which are the basis for the seven blessings of Shemoneh Esrai (Mussaf) on Shabbos. Furthermore, we recite this mizmor as we bring the Torah back to the Aron Kodesh following the reading of the Torah. Tur and Bach say that, since the seven brachos of Mussaf Shemoneh Esrai are derived from this psalm, it is most appropriate to recite it at this point in the davening. This mizmor details the giving of the Torah with the accompanying “voices.” Many explanations are rendered for these voices. We will follow the simple p’shat. Rashi interprets the first voice over the water as the voice of Hashem when He split the Red Sea. This was followed by the voice of Hashem as He gave the Torah to our people. At this point, He constricted the power of His voice in consideration of Klal Yisrael who were not able to handle such awesome power. Others (Rashbam) posit that the first five voices correspond to the development of Creation until the advent of Adam Ha’Rishon.
