Ancient Views
ÒAfter this, on the second day, [God] placed the heavens over the whole world, and separated it from the other partsÉ.  He also placed a crystalline [firmament] round it, and put it together in a manner agreeable to the earth, and fitted it for giving moisture and rain, and for affording the advantage of dews.Ó
Josephus, Antiquities, 1.1.1.