Quotation על תהילים 104:37

It is written: “The path of life is above the intelligent person, in order that he turn away from the grave below.” (Mishlei 15:24). This verse's intent requires a preface: The angels were created as part of the spiritual world on the second day, and although it is not explicitly stated in the Torah, it is stated in the Midrash and alluded to in the Psalm (Tehilim 104:3-4) – “Who roofs His upper chambers with water; Who makes clouds His chariot, which go on the wings of the wind. He makes winds His messengers, burning fire His ministers.” [NOTE: The psalmist is referring to the primordial water and the angels together, since both were created on the second day]. The animals were created as part of the physical world on the fifth day. Angels are intelligent, serve their creator, and do not have self-serving, physical drives. Animals, on the other hand, have such drives, but lack intelligence. The result is that angels cannot receive reward for their service, as they have no negative drives to overcome, and animals cannot be punished for their actions, as they do not have the intelligence necessary to overcome their drives.

Now if the main point of creating the world was for one person, certainly the world's events following its creation, whether good or bad, [are also for him]. So every person must know in himself how he causes the world's events and changes, not [only] via belief and humility without any understanding - close to his mouth but far from his kidneys - but [rather] his heart must see his worldly interactions [as an] earthly man; and how he is far from God [as a result of] all his materialistic ways which treat the holy life-force superficially - [thus] from this world of action "the querulous one alienates his (/ALuF/) friend" (a wordplay equivalence is made here on the letter root /ALF/) which is 'a thousand (AeLeF) [of] Understanding, a thousand (AeLeF) [of] Wisdom' (totaling the two thousand years corresponding to Wisdom and Understanding which preceded creation). And [since] as it is written "with Wisdom did you make all", thus without Wisdom there is nothing with which to [even] sustain [the creation].

Rabbi Yanai said: The earth was created first, as it is written (Gen. 2:4), "[...God made] earth and heaven." They said to him: Is it not written (Gen. 1:1), "[God created] the heavens and the earth"? He replied: What is this like? A king bought a beautiful object, but since it was not complete, he did not give it a name. He said, "I will complete it, I will prepare its pedestal and attachment, and then I will give it a name." It is thus written (Ps. 102:26), "Of old You established the earth; the heavens are the work of Your hands." It is furthermore written (Ps. 104:2-3), "wrapped in a robe of light; You spread the heavens like a tent cloth, He sets the rafters of His lofts in the waters..." It is then written (Ps. 104:4), "He makes the winds His messengers, fiery flames His servants." Finally, it is written (Ps. 104:5), "He established the earth on its foundations, so that it shall never totter." When He made its pedestal, He strengthened it. It is therefore written, "that it not be moved." What is its name? "And Va'ed (forever) is its name. And its pedestal is Olam (world). It is therefore written, "for the World And Forever."