Daily Rambam (1) Hilchos Yesodei Hatorah – Chapter 3: The Structure of the Heavens and the Foundations of Creation (Tuesday, 30th Shevat)

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Hilchos Yesodei haTorah – Chapter 3: The Structure of the Heavens and the Foundations of Creation

A systematic outline of the structure of the heavens, the spheres, the elements, and their spiritual nature

  1. The Nine Spheres (Heavens)

The Sages taught that the heavens (also called “firmament,” “habitation,” “skies”) consist of nine spheres, arranged from closest to Earth upward:

  1. Sphere of the Moon
  2. Sphere containing the planet Kochav
  3. Sphere containing the planet Nogah
  4. Sphere containing the Sun
  5. Sphere containing the planet Ma’dim
  6. Sphere containing the planet Tzedek
  7. Sphere containing the planet Shabbtai
  8. Sphere of the fixed stars
  9. The outermost sphere — revolving daily from east to west, encompassing everything

Why do all stars appear in one sphere?

Because the spheres are pure, refined, and transparent (like glass or sapphire), making the distant stars appear lower than they are.

  1. Sub‑Spheres and Motion
  • Each major sphere (those containing planets or stars) is subdivided into many smaller spheres, layered like an onion.
  • Some rotate east‑to‑west; others west‑to‑east.
  • There is no empty space between any spheres.

  1. Nature of the Spheres
  • The spheres have no weight or lightness.
  • They have no color — the blue appearance is due to the atmosphere between Earth and heaven.
  • They have no taste or smell, which exist only in lower, coarse matter.

  1. The Earth’s Position
  • All nine spheres are perfectly round, like a ball.
  • The Earth is suspended at their center.

Additionally:

  • Certain planets have their own small spheres fixed around them.
  • These small spheres do not surround Earth; they are embedded within larger spheres.

  1. Total Number of Spheres
  • 18 spheres completely surround the Earth.
  • 8 smaller spheres are internal and do not surround Earth.

Astronomy allows one to calculate:

  • Rotational speed
  • North–south deviation
  • Distance from Earth
  • Orbital patterns

The Rambam notes that many books of Greek astronomy explain this science.

  1. The Zodiac (Mazalot)
  • The outermost sphere (the 9th) was conceptually divided into twelve sections by ancient sages.
  • These were named according to the shapes formed by the constellations in the sphere beneath it:

Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius, Pisces.

  1. Why These Names Are Not Literal
  • The ninth sphere has no stars and no shapes.
  • The shapes appear in the eighth sphere (the constellations).
  • The names reflected how the constellations appeared at the time of the Flood.
  • Since the stars move slowly, their positions change over centuries.
  • A star in the eighth sphere moves in seventy years the distance the sun or moon moves in one day.

  1. Size of the Celestial Bodies

Among visible stars:

  • Some are smaller than Earth.
  • Others are much larger.

Comparisons:

  • Earth is about 40 times larger than the Moon.
  • The Sun is about 170 times larger than Earth.
  • Thus the Moon is about 1/6800 the size of the Sun.

No star equals the Sun’s size, and none is as small as Kochav.

  1. The Spheres Are Alive and Intelligent

All stars and spheres:

  • Possess soul, knowledge, and intellect
  • Are alive, aware of their Creator
  • Praise and glorify God, each according to its level
  • Understand themselves and understand the angels higher than them
  • Their knowledge is:
    • Less than that of angels
    • Greater than that of human beings

  1. Matter Below the Moon

Below the lunar sphere, God created a different kind of matter and four distinct forms:

  1. Fire
  2. Air (wind)
  3. Water
  4. Earth

Each form combines with matter to produce:

  • Body of fire
  • Body of air
  • Body of water
  • Body of earth

These elements are arranged in layers:

  • Fire closest to the moon
  • Below it air
  • Below it water
  • Below it earth
  • No empty space exists between them.

  1. The Four Elements Have No Soul
  • Fire, air, water, and earth are lifeless and unconscious.
  • They possess natural inclinations but no awareness.
  • Verses describing them “praising God” mean:
    • People should praise God regarding His power as seen through these creations.

Chapter Summary

Chapter 3 provides:

  • A complete structure of the heavens according to the Rambam’s cosmology
  • A hierarchical model of the spheres, constellations, and planetary motions
  • A philosophical view that:
    • Heavenly bodies are alive and intelligent
    • The four elements below the moon are lifeless
  • A framework for understanding the physical and metaphysical order of creation
  • Foundations intended to support achieving love and fear of God through contemplation

About The Author

Rabbi Yaakov Goldstein is a 6th generation descendent of the famous Chief Rabbi of Izhmir, Rav Yehoshua Avraham Krispin, who authored a number of Sefarim, and was a colleague of Rav Chaim Falagi, and father in-law of the Pesach Hadvir. He currently lives with his wife Shayna, and twelve children K”H, in Tzfas, Israel. Rabbi Goldstein received Semicha from Rabbi Schneur Zalman Labkowski of the Tomchei Temimim headquarters in 2005 and served as a chaplain in the Lotar/Kalatz and K9 unit of the IDF from years 2005-2008. He is also a certified Shochet, and has performed Hashgacha work in slaughterhouses. Rabbi Goldstein is the director of Shulchanaruchharav.com, the world’s leading web-based Halacha database, and is the director of the Home Study Semicha Program, a self-study web-based Semicha program. He is a prolific author of over 50 Sefarim studied by a wide range of readers throughout the world, which is used regularly in Semicha programs around the globe. He is a world renowned Posek, answering questions to a web-based market, and serves as a local Posek, Rav, and Lecturer, in the Tzemach Tzedek community Shul in Tzefas, Israel. His many classes can be heard both from his website, Vimeo and YouTube channel. Students can join live to classes given in the Tzemach Tzedek Shul, through the “בית חבד צפת Chabad Tsfat” YouTube channel.