Commentary for Yoma 108:3
רבי יהושע אומר עולם מן הצדדין נברא שנאמר (איוב לז, ו) כי לשלג יאמר הוי ארץ וגשם מטר וגשם מטרות עוזו רבי יצחק (נפחא) אמר אבן ירה הקב"ה בים ממנו נשתת העולם שנאמר (איוב לח, ו) על מה אדניה הטבעו או מי ירה אבן פנתה
For it was taught: R'Eliezer says: The world was created from its centre, as it is said: When the dust runneth into a mass, and the clods keep fast together.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Job XXXVIII, 38.');"><sup>4</sup></span> R'Joshua said: The world was created from its sides on, as it is said For He saith to the snow: 'Fall thou on the earth'; likewise to the shower of rain, and to the showers of His mighty rain.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Ibid. XXXVII, 6. The picture here (Rashi) is that of a skeleton or frame, which filled in, gradually solidifying from all sides towards the centre, which is last in foundation. All Scriptural verses here are used as intimation not logically but illustratively. Here is an amazing anticipation of the modern theory that the world was founded by the solidification of vapours, the Talmudic account ascribing this gradual creation to the will of God.');"><sup>5</sup></span>
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