How is Torah connected to what came before?
Rashi #1: Also the Torah illuminates like the sun - "Me'iras Einayim" (verse 9), "Ki Ner Mitzvah v'Sorah Or" (Mishlei 6:23).
Rashi #2: Refer to 19:7:3:3.
Radak: (a) Just like Shamayim, the sun and spheres testify about Kevod Kel and His Chachmah, so the Torah and the Mitzvos that He commanded Amo Yisrael, testify to His Chachmah and straightness - "Asher Lo Chachamim u'Mishpatim Tzadikim k'Chol ha'Torah ha'Zos" (Devarim 4:8). (b) Just like Shamayim and the sun always help, and the world stands on them, so the Torah, which is Temimah, and the Nefesh depends on it like the world depends on the sun. Refer to 19:8:4:2.
Radak (10): The Mizmor teaches that Torah's benefit is greater than the sun's. The sun harms some matters; Torah helps everything.
Malbim: After teaching how the world shows Hashem's honor and greatness, it says that there is a Hagadah of His wonders that is greater in six ways. They correspond to six parts of Torah that David prayed about in Tehilim 119 - Torah, Edus, Pekudim, Mitzvos, Chukim 1 and Mishpatim. (Verses 8-10 discuss them.)
Rashi (9): Here (verses 8-10), six parts of Torah are discussed - Torah, Edus, Pekudim, Mitzvos, Yir'ah and Mishpatim. They correspond to the six orders of the Mishnah. Between each name of Hashem (in these verses) are five words, including Hashem's name, corresponding to the five Chumashim. Radak (9) - here it does not mention Chukim (even though Tehilim 119 mentions it) because their reasons are not evident to all, e.g. Isurim of pork and Sha'atnez. They are coveted, sweet and Tehorim only to a minority of people who understand the reasons. Malbim (10) - "Yir'as Hashem" (10) refers to Chukim that we guard only amidst fear of Him.
What is "Torah"?
Radak: It is teaching - "v'Lo Shamati b'Kol Mori" (Mishlei 5:13), "u'Lehoros Nasan b'Libo" (Shemos 35:34). It teaches about the matter's characteristics - "Zos Toras ha'Behemah veha'Of", "Toras ha'Metzora" (Vayikra 11:46, 14:2). The entire Sefer from Bereishis until "l'Einei Kol Yisrael" is called Torah - "va'Yichtov Moshe Es ha'Torah ha'Zos" (Devarim 31:9). The creation, and the episodes of the Avos, and all other matters [in the Torah] all teach that Hashem formed the world, His goodness, His creations and His Hashgachah on good and evil.
Malbim: Torah teaches us the foundations of Emunah, both in investigations of the Divine and matters of Nevu'ah.
Why does it say "Toras Hashem Temimah"?
Radak: It includes everything. It does not lack anything that one needs in this world or the world to come.
Radak (10): One finds benefit from Torah in all ways of this world and the world to come.
Malbim: It is a better Hagadah of Hashem. What we learn from investigation of the world is not Temimah (complete). It teaches only that there is a Creator, for there is no creation without a Creator. It does not teach whether or not the world is Kadmon (always existed) or was made anew, if it was from nothing, or from an existing material. It does not teach Hashgachah, Nevu'ah, Torah from Shamayim, and Hashem's clinging to His close nation. Toras Hashem is Temimah, without any lack. It teaches all [proper] mindsets and Emunos, and how the Nefesh returns to Hashem.
Why does it say "Meshivas Nafesh"?
Rashi: It returns people from the path of death to the path of life. Refer to 19:7:3:3.
Radak: The Nefesh in a body is like a stranger in a foreign land, with no one to help him. The bodies' helpers pursue lust; the Nefesh is like a captive among them. Shlomo called it "Ish Misken v'Chacham" (Koheles 9:15). The Torah returns the Nefesh from its captivity to the place of its honor; it teaches it the straight path, and veers it from worldly lusts and many pitfalls.
Radak (10): (This is another way that Torah is better than the sun.) When the sun returns a person's heat too much, he can get mortally ill - "va'Tach ha'Shemesh Al Rosh Yonah va'Yis'alef" (Yonah 4:8). Torah is different. It returns one's Nefesh, and the body endures in Torah!
What are "Edus Hashem"?
Radak: They are testimonies between Yisrael and Hashem, that they accepted Him to be Elokim and He accepted them to be His treasured nation - we find "Aron ha'Edus" (Shemos 26:33), "Ohel ha'Edus" (Bamidbar 17:23). The Mitzvos that Hashem commanded are the Edus. The Aseres ha'Dibros are in the Luchos; they are the entire Torah 1 . It was a great testimony for Yisrael and their children forever, when they saw Hashem's honor on Har Sinai with voices and flames. Also guarding Shabbos and Mo'adim are Edus, a sign and commemoration. Shemitah and Yovel are an eternal testimony - "Ki Li Kol ha'Aretz" (Shemos 19:5), "Avadi Hem" (Vayikra 25:42).
Malbim: They are the stories in the Torah. They are unlike the stories that Chachamim invented to 'clothe' their investigations. Most are mere fictitious parables.
We may not say Aseres ha'Dibros b'Tzibur, lest heretics say that they are the entire Torah (Rema OC 1:5, and so Rashi Brachos 12a explains the Gemara there)! Perhaps Radak means that they are the basis of the entire Torah. (PF)
Why does it say "Edus Hashem Ne'emanah"?
Rashi: It is trustworthy to testify about those who learn it.
Radak: There is no Sheker in it. Hashem made honor dwell in Yisrael; no one denies or doubts this. Even though it says about Torah "Temimah" and "Meshivas Nafesh" and it says about Edus "Ne'emanah" and "Machkimas Pesi", all the adjectives apply to all parts of Torah. The Mizmor wrote the adjective by the part of Torah that it best applies to.
Malbim: Also the 'garments' of the Torah and its stories, aside from the inner intent and secrets hidden in them, their simple meaning is true.
Why does it say that Torah make simpletons wise?
Rashi: It gives to them Chachmah.
Radak: All matters of the Mishkan are a wondrous Chachmah - the Menorah, Mizbechos and curtains. Nothing is empty! They all demonstrate a Chachmah that Chachamim call 'the middle world.' It is an image of the upper world and of the small (lower) world. Also guarding Shabbos is a great Chachmah. Due to it, a person investigates the Chidush of [the creation of] the world and all Ma'asei Bereishis (natural science). It says about the Torah "Ki Hi Chachmaschem u'Vinaschem l'Einei ha'Amim Rak Am Chacham v'Navon ha'Goy ha'Gadol ha'Zeh" (Devarim 4:6).
Radak (10): (This is another way that Torah is better than the sun.) Sometimes sun enters the brain, and the person goes crazy. Torah is different; it makes the simple wise.
Malbim: The stories of the Torah and its testimonies, even a simpleton can learn from the generations of the flood, dispersion, Sedom... how Hashem punishes Resha'im. From what happened to the Avos, we learn Hashem's Hashgachah on Tzadikim. From Yetzi'as Egypt we see that Hashem uproots nature and does wonders. From Ma'amad Har Sinai we recognize the truth of Nevu'ah and Torah from Shamayim. This is unlike the philosophers' conclusions; only wise investigators can understand them.
