The existence of dry land is an ongoing miracle rather than a basic fact of nature. Naturally, heavy earth should sink and remain completely submerged under water. The reality that continents rise above the ocean is a continuous testament to God altering the natural order, gathering the waters to specific places to make life possible [רד״ק, מצודת דוד, אלשיך]. He created the world in careful stages, first laying the foundation of the earth and then completing and perfecting its structure [מלבי״ם]. In a physical sense, God built the dry land directly over vast bodies of water, setting it upon flowing currents. Water does not merely border the continents; it exists beneath them as well [ביאור שטיינזלץ].
However, a different approach suggests that the earth was established not literally on top of the water, but rather next to it. In this view, God founded human civilization in close proximity to seas and rivers [רד״ק, מלבי״ם, מאירי]. This design is intentional and serves a vital purpose, as moisture is essential for all living creatures. To illustrate this carefully planned design, commentators note that no human settlement on earth is located further than an eighteen-day journey from the sea [רד״ק, מלבי״ם].
Beyond geography, the foundation of the world holds deep spiritual meaning. Some explain that the rivers supporting the earth are actually spiritual streams flowing from the Garden of Eden, providing life and sustaining energy to the physical world [אלשיך]. Furthermore, ancient traditions connect this structure directly to the Land of Israel. The bodies of water hint at seven specific seas, including the Sea of Galilee, the Dead Sea, and the Mediterranean, along with four specific rivers—the Jordan, Yarmouk, Kermion, and Pigah—that surround and define the land [תורה תמימה, רש״י, רד״ק]. While the entire earth was formed to sustain all living creatures, the holy mountain within it serves a higher purpose. It is reserved specifically for those with clean hands and pure hearts who actively seek God [רד״ק].