Midrash su Isaia 58:1

Our Rabbis were taught: They who occupy themselves with the study of Scriptures are not to be blamed, but, on the other hand, are not to be praised. With the Mishnah, however, they are to be praised, and will be rewarded; but with the Gemara there is not a better custom. However, look to occupy thyself with the Mishnah, rather than with the Gemara. Does not the Baraitha contradict itself? It states there is not a better custom than he Gemara, and immediately it states, Occupy thyself with the Mishnah (Ib. b). Said R. Jochanan: "In the time of Rabbi, the above Mishnah was taught; in consequence all the disciples left the Mishnah and started the Gemara; he therefore lectured again, Occupy thyself better with the Mishnah, etc., and subsequently his above lecture was added to the Mishnah." What was the basis of the above mentioned lecture? As R. Juda b. Illai lectured: "What is the meaning of the passage (Is. 66, 5) Hear the word of the Lord, ye that tremble at His word: Your brethren that hate you, that cast you out for My name's sake, have said: Let the Lord be glorified, that we may gaze upon your joy, but they shall be ashamed? Tremble at His word, refers to the scholars who study Gemara; your brethren, refers to those who study the Scripture; that hate you, refers to those who study the Mishnah; that cast you out, refers to the common people. But lest one say their hope has ceased, therefore it is written: that we may gaze upon your joy. Perhaps one will say that Israel will be ashamed, the passage therefore says, But they shall be ashamed; i.e, the idolater shall be ashamed, but Israel will rejoice.

THE CREATION ON THE SECOND DAY
ON the second day the Holy One, blessed be He, created the firmament, the angels, fire for flesh and blood, and the fire of Gehinnom. Were not heaven and earth created on the first day, as it is said, "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth" (Gen. 1:1)? Which firmament was created on the second day? Rabbi Eliezer said: || It was the firmament which is above the heads of the four Chajjôth (living creatures), (as it is said), "And over the head of the Chajjôth there was the likeness of a firmament, like the colour of the terrible crystal" (Ezek. 1:22). What is the meaning of (the expression), "like the colour of the terrible crystal"? It means like precious stones and pearls; it illuminates all the heavens like a lamp which is illuminating the whole house and like the sun which is shining with maximum intensity at noonday, as it is said, "The light dwelleth with him" (Dan. 2:22); and like this in the future will the righteous shed light, as it is said, "And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament" (Dan. 12:3). Were it not for that firmament the world would be engulfed by the waters above it and below it; but (the firmament) divides the waters (above) from the waters (below), as it is said, "And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, (and let it divide the waters from the waters)" (Gen. 1:6), it illuminates between the waters above and the waters below.