Creation By Angels

On the second day the Holy One, blessed be He, created the firmament, the angels, the fire of flesh and blood, and the fire of Gehinnom. But were not the heavens and the earth created on the first day, as it is said: "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth" (Genesis 1:1)? Then which firmament did He create on the second day? Rabbi Eliezer says: The firmament that is over the heads of the four living creatures. And the angels that were created on the second day, when they are sent by His word they become winds, and when they minister before Him they become of fire, as it is said: "He makes His angels winds, His ministers a flaming fire" (Psalms 104:4). Four companies of ministering angels offer praise before the Holy One, blessed be He. The first camp, that of Michael, is at His right. The second camp, that of Gabriel, is at His left. The third camp, that of Uriel, is before Him. The fourth camp, that of Raphael, is behind Him. And the Presence of the Holy One, blessed be He, is in the middle. And He sits upon a high and lofty throne, raised up and suspended above in the air. And when He speaks toward the east, He speaks from between the two cherubim with the face of a man. And when He speaks toward the south, He speaks from between the two cherubim with the face of a lion. And when He speaks toward the west, He speaks from between the two cherubim with the face of an ox. And when He speaks toward the north, He speaks from between the two cherubim with the face of an eagle. And the living creatures stand beside the throne of His glory, yet they do not know the place of His glory. They stand in fear and dread, in trembling and quaking, and from the sweat of their faces a river of fire flows forth and goes out before Him, as it is said: "A river of fire streamed and went out from before Him" (Daniel 7:10). And Israel is one nation on the earth who declare His unity continually; every day they answer and say: "Hear, O Israel, the LORD is our God, the LORD is One" (Deuteronomy 6:4).