(כב) הַיֹּשֵׁב֙ עַל־ח֣וּג הָאָ֔רֶץ וְיֹשְׁבֶ֖יהָ כַּחֲגָבִ֑ים הַנּוֹטֶ֤ה כַדֹּק֙ שָׁמַ֔יִם וַיִּמְתָּחֵ֥ם כָּאֹ֖הֶל לָשָֽׁבֶת׃
(22) The one who dwells above the sphere of the Earth, and whose inhabitants are like grasshoppers; Who stretches the cosmos like a curtain, expands them out like a tent to dwell.
וחכ"א אינן אסורין וכו': מקל שרודה את עצמו תחת כל העולם כולו כמקל: צפור שתופש את עצמו תחת כל העולם כולו כצפור: כדור שתופש את עצמו תחת כל העולם כולו ככדור
§ The mishna teaches: And the Rabbis say: The only statues that are forbidden are: Any statue that has in its hand a staff, or a bird, or an orb, as these are indications that this statue is designated for idolatry. The Gemara explains that each of these items symbolizes the statue’s supposed divinity, indicating its dominion over the world: A staff symbolizes dominion as the idol rules itself under the entire world, i.e., it rules the entire world, like one rules over an animal with a staff. A bird symbolizes dominion as the idol grasps itself under the entire world, i.e., it grasps the entire world, as one grasps a bird in his hand. An orb symbolizes dominion as the idol grasps itself under the entire world, i.e., it grasps the entire world, as one grasps a ball in his hand.
ככדור - שהעולם עגול כדאיתא בירושלמי שאלכסנדרוס מוקדון עלה למעלה עד שראה כל העולם ככדור ואת הים כקערה פי' ים אוקינוס שמקיף את כל העולם:
Like a ball - That the world is round, as stated in the Jerusalem Talmud, that Alexander of Macedon ascended above until he saw all of the world like a ball, and the sea like a basin, meaning the great ocean that entirely encompasses the Earth.