Why does the Torah insert this Pasuk here?
Rashi: To point out that, although Hashem owns the whole of heaven and earth, He desired the Avos out of all the creation, and chose their offspring Yisrael to be His.
Ramban and R. Bachye (on Pasuk 12): With reference to 10:12:4:1 - Since He owns Heaven and earth and all that live in them belong to Him and they give Him Kavod, He does not need anything from us - and He only chose us because He craved the Avos and chose their descendents to be His.
"Hein ha'Shamayim u'Shemei ha'Shamayim ha'Aretz ve'Chol asher bah ". If the Torah wants only to present the superiority of Yisrael over the nations, why did it need to insert "ha'Shamayim u'Shemei ha'Shamayim"?
R. Bachye #1: Refer to 10:14:1:2.
R. Bachye #2: To teach us that, in spite of the phenomenal size and power of the Galgalim (the celestial bodies), the main purpose of the creation is the people on planet earth, 1 and the Galgalim were only created to serve them. 2 3
R. Bachye: As the Gemara states in Sanhedrin 93a "Gedolim Tzadikim Yoser mi'Mal'achei ha'Shareis".
R. Bachye: As the Torah writes in Bereishis 1:14 "Y'hi Me'oros bi'Reki'a ha'Shamayim Leha'ir al ha'Aretz".
See R. Bachye, who elaborates.
What is the difference between "Shamayim and "Shemei ha'Shamayim"?
Ramban and R. Bachye 1 (on Pasuk 12): "Shamayim" refers to the celestial bodies - the angels, the sun, moon and stars; 2 "Sh'mei ha'Shamayim" to the four basic components, which come from the power of the heavens 3 from which everything in this world is formed.
Chagigah, 22b: They refer to two heavens (One is space, the other, the actual heavens - Maharsha). 4
See also R. Bachye citing the Rambam.
Ramban: See Tehilim, 148:1-4.
Ramban: Just as the Torah writes here "ha'Aretz ve'Chol asher bah".
Perhaps that is the meaning of what we say every morning in Birchos ha'Shachar 'Atah Hu Hashem Elokim ba'Shamayim u'vi'Shemei ha'Shamayim ha'Elyonim'.
