Another matter: “You shall take for you on the first day” – that is what is written: “The fields and everything within them will exult” (Psalms 96:12). “The fields will exult” – this is the world, as it is stated: “It came to pass when they were in the field” (Genesis 4:8).14This verse is stated regarding the incident of Cain and Abel. The midrash elsewhere asserts that they argued about how to divide the entire world between them (see Bereshit Rabba 22:7).
“And everything within them” – these are the creatures, just as it says: “The earth and all its contents are the Lord’s” (Psalms 24:1). “Then the trees of the forest will sing” (I Chronicles 16:33) – Rabbi Aḥa said: “[The trees of] the forest [will sing]”; “all the trees of the forest [will sing]” (Psalms 96:12).15Two verses employ almost the same terminology, but the verse in Psalms adds the word “all.”
“The forest” – these are trees that produce fruit. “All the trees of the forest” – these are trees that do not produce fruit. Before whom [will they sing]? “Before the Lord” (Psalms 98:9).
Why? Because “He comes” (Psalms 98:9) on Rosh HaShana and Yom Kippur. To do what? “He will judge the world with righteousness and peoples with uprightness” (Psalms 98:9).