תהלים, פרק קמ״ח, פסוק ד׳

All of creation, across its many hidden and layered dimensions, is called to praise God. The call reaches into the uppermost realms of the universe, revealing a complex structure of the skies and the heavenly forces operating within them.

The highest skies do not consist of a single layer, but rather form a graded system of firmaments stacked one on top of the other [ביאור שטיינזלץ, מצודת דוד]. Commentators offer various views on their exact location. Some identify this region as the space beginning just above the rain clouds and extending up to the sphere of the moon [מלבי״ם]. Others define it as the highest section of the atmosphere [מאירי], or as a sphere of fire situated right next to the moon [רד״ק]. A different perspective associates these highest skies with the second firmament. According to this view, this specific layer praises God out of gratitude for its unique historical role in preparing the heavenly manna for the righteous [אלשיך].

Situated even higher are the upper waters, which are understood through either a natural or a spiritual lens. From a natural standpoint, these waters exist in the middle section of the atmosphere. This marks the absolute highest point that clouds can reach, serving as the area where rain is formed before falling to the earth [מאירי, רד״ק]. This specific region is even described as a massive sphere of ice or a zone of winter storms [רד״ק].

Conversely, the spiritual explanation views these as the original waters from the dawn of creation. Initially, the entire universe was an expanse of water within water. God then separated these elements, formed the celestial spheres, and elevated these upper, spiritual waters so that the physical world could exist below. These are not ordinary physical creations. They remain suspended in their high position purely by the power of God's spoken word [אלשיך, מלבי״ם]. From their elevated place, they act as heavenly storehouses, channeling abundance down into the lower world [ביאור שטיינזלץ].