The Firmament and the Waters Above It, According to the Sacred Scriptures

Abstract

In the first chapter of Genesis, Moses wrote “and God said let there be RAKIAH”, that is, “an expanse”, (which in certain texts of the Scriptures is translated as “firmament”) “in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the water. And God made the firmament and divided the waters which were beneath the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament: and it was so. And God called the firmament SCHAMAIM” (which numerous scholars say is the same as “ibi aquae” (“There are waters”), but which they translate as “the Heavens.” “And the evening and the morning were the second day. And God said, let the waters under the heaven (SCHAMAIM) be gathered together unto one place and let the dry land appear: and it was so. And God called the dry land, the Earth; and the gathering together of the waters, called He the seas, etc”, and later God said (verse 14), “Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven.”