Kaisipang Hudyo sa Mga Awit 101:7: Akeidat Yitzchak & Guide for the Perplexed

In view of all this, Jacob's conduct seems hard to understand. He who was to become the fountainhead of the Jewish nation, appears guilty of the vilest accusation. How could he take advantage of a tired and thirsty brother, haggle over a bowl of soup until Esau would sell him his birthright, instead of performing an act of brotherly love and feeding him? Later on, he repeats the performance prior to the blessing, using subterfuge, lies, and deceit to secure his father's blessing, a blessing which had been intended for Esau. Is this the "uprightness" that the Torah has in mind when it describes Jacob as "an upright man?"

The term "water" is used in three different meanings: 1) "water" as we know it, 2) atmosphere, 3) water as something spiritual. Our sages say, "There is no water except Torah” (Baba Kama 17, et al). The statement, "And so it came to be," embraces the coming into existence of these three distinct kinds of water. The absence of the expression ki tov, it was good, is not to be understood negatively, according to whichever reason advanced by the scholars, rather ki tov is used when something existing has been perfected. At that point its goodness becomes manifest. (10) Since during the second day's activities the celestial bodies that were to fill the sky had not been hung yet, the expression "it was good" is obviously not called for. Even if everything had been in place except the sun and the moon, the work would not yet have been completed to call forth the judgment that it had turned out well.

It is therefore clear that there has been one common element called water, which has been afterwards distinguished by three different forms; one part forms the seas, another the firmament, and a third part is over the firmament, and all this is separate from the earth. The Scriptural text follows here a peculiar method in order to indicate some extraordinary mysteries. It has also been declared by our Sages that the portion above the firmament is only water by name, not in reality, for they say (Babyl. Talmud, Ḥagigah 14b) “Four entered the paradise,” etc. R. Akiba said to them, “When you come to the stores of pure marble, do not say, Water, water, for it is written, ‘He that telleth lies shall not tarry in my sight’” (Ps. 101:7). Consider, if you belong to the class of thinking men, how clearly and distinctly this passage explains the subject for those who reflect on it! Understand that which has been proved by Aristotle in his book On Meteorology, and note whatever men of science have said on meteorological matters.