Kaisipang Hudyo sa Mga Awit 78:23: Guide for the Perplexed

We must consider the words, “the heavens were opened” (Ezek. 1:1); they give the key to the understanding of the whole. The figure of opening, also that of opening the gates, occurs frequently in the books of the prophets: e.g., “Open ye the gates that the righteous nation may enter in” (Isa. 26:2); “He opened the doors of heaven” (Ps. lxx-viii. 23); “Lift them up, ye everlasting doors” (ibid. 24:9); “Open to me the gates of righteousness, I will go into them, and I will praise the Lord” (ibid. 118:19). There are many other instances of this kind.

And these figures are very frequent in the books of the prophets. Some are easily recognised by the ordinary reader as figures, others with some difficulty. Thus nobody doubts that the blessing, “May the Lord open to thee his good treasure, the heavens,” must be taken figuratively; for God has no treasure in which He keeps the rain. The same is the case with the following passage—“He opened the doors of heaven, he rained upon them manna to eat” (Ps. 78:23, 24). No person assumes that there is a door or gate in heaven, but every one understands that this is a simile and a figurative expression. In the same way must be understood the following passages—“The heavens were opened” (Ezek. 1:1); “If not, blot me out from thy book which thou hast written” (Exod. 32:32); “I will blot him out from the book of life” (ibid. ver. 33). All these phrases are figurative: and we must not assume that God has a book in which He writes, or from which He blots out, as those generally believe that do not find figurative speech in these passages.