The Firmament Above the Heads of the Living Creatures

(Genesis 1:6) "Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters." On the second day He created the firmament, and the angels, and the fire of flesh and blood, and the fire of Gehinnom. But were not the heavens created on the first day? Then which firmament was created on the second day? The firmament that is over the heads of the living creatures, as it is said, "and the likeness over the heads of the living creature was a firmament, like the color of the awesome ice" (Ezekiel 1:22). What is "like the color of the awesome ice"? It is of precious stones and pearls, and like the sun that shines at noon, as it is said, "and the light dwells with Him" (Daniel 2:22). And by that light the righteous are destined to shine in the time to come, as it is said, "and the wise shall shine like the radiance of the firmament" (Daniel 12:3).