Komentaryong Sumisipi para sa Mga Awit 119:91

“The heavens” – with the definite article, to indicate that that it’s speaking of those [heavens] which are visible, and [“heavens”] are always plural. And it's possible that it means, "its domain" – the domain of each one. The meaning of “heavens” is heights and elevation, and thus it is in Arabic, which is primarily based on the Holy Tongue. There are also “heavens of heavens”, but there is no singular form, like rechayim [“millstones”] and tzohorayim [“afternoon”]. People of stature will understand these secrets. Now the Ga’on says that the earth is like a point, and the heavens are like a thread encompassing it, and after these two were created, were everything within them [created], like water and fire. Others have said that the water was included with the earth, and the wind with the heavens. According to my opinion, these heavens and earth are [identical to] the firmament and the dry land, for only one things was created on each day: on the first day, light; on the second day, the firmament; on the third day, plants; on the fourth day, the luminaries, of the fifth day, and on the sixth day, the living things. The psalm mentioned [above] bears witness. And it’s impossible for the line which surrounds to precede the point, or for the point to precede the line, so therefore did they say that the heavens and the earth were created simultaneously. Bearing witness is “I call to them, they stand up together” – Isaiah 48:13. Yet this proof is not [sufficiently] clear, for this is not the explanation of the verse, for how can He say “to them” when they are not!? And how can He call it tohu? Rather, its meaning is “I created them”, and at the time I call to them, they will both stand up before Me like servants to do My will”, as in “Your word is standing in the heavens” – Psalms 119:89. And afterwards he mentioned the earth, afterwards stating that both will arise to execute judgment as He commands them.

טפחה Hath put round,¹⁹A. V., Hath spanned. According to I. E. טפח means to put round; but although he appears to reject here the derivation from טֶפַח hand breadth, in his commentary on Lamentations 2:20, he seems to adopt it.¹⁹A. V., Hath spanned. According to I. E. טפח means to put round; but although he appears to reject here the derivation from טֶפַח hand breadth, in his commentary on Lamentations 2:20, he seems to adopt it. Comp. טפחתי I have swaddled (Lam. 2:22). Others explain it: Hath measured with the handbreadth יעמדו יחדיו —.(טֶפַח) They stand up together. From this phrase some of the commentators derive their opinion, that heaven and earth were created simultaneously, not consecutively.²⁰When a dispute arose between the school of Hillel and that of Shammai about the order of the creation of heaven and earth, R. Shimeon ben Jochai settled the dispute, proving from this verse, I call unto them, that is, unto heaven and earth, they stood up together, that both were created at the same time. (Bereshith Rabba c. i.). Comp. Kimchi ad locum. The literal meaning, however, is: I have made them, and when I call them to do My will and desire they stand both before Me like servants; comp. למשפטיך עמדו they stand up²¹A. V., They continue. This quotation is to show that the verb עמד has also the meaning to stand as a servant, to attend. Comp. לפניו אשר עמדתי before whom I stand (1 Kings 17:1), that is, whose servant I am. according to Thy ordinances (Ps. 119:91). For else²²That is, if the words I call unto them had not the meaning, I give commands to them, as to my servants, but were the description of their creation, identical with I commanded them to come into existence. how should God call them, when not yet existing.