Rashi (from Chagigah 13a): We may not contemplate this verse. Malbim - this is because heretics erred to say that from the middle and below is of Hormiz (a demon) ¹ . A boy expounded Ma'ase Merkavah; a fire came out from Chashmal and ate him (ibid.) Acher saw Metatron in Olam ha'Yetzirah and erred. There are two angels of this name - the good in Eitz ha'Da'as, and the bad (peel). R. Meir learned from Acher. He took the good fruit, and discarded the peel.

Malbim citing Mahari: It represents the First cause ² .

Malbim: Chashmal are Chayos - Machaneh Shechinah, where there is a low voice. They receive influence from above and put it on the Chayos, which move the Ofanim.

Rashi: Inside of it was like an appearance of fire.

Malbim: There, he did not see Chashmal itself, only the Bayis around it, which appeared like fire. Above the loins hints to the influence from Olam ha'Kisei above. It receives radiance, and not burning fire; there is no burning above. He saw the appearance of fire - preparation to burn [Beis Hashem].

Radak citing Targum Yonasan: It was impossible to look at it, and below.

Malbim: There he saw the Chashmal itself, for it does not say mi'Bayis Saviv. It seems that first he saw above, and after below - unlike understanding, in which revealed precedes the hidden, and simple precedes difficult. Surely above is more internal and hidden than below! In his vision in the sixth year (8:2), first he saw below, and he did not see above mi'Bayis Saviv. He did not see fire, rather, a radiance like Chashmal. Here, above he did not see Chashmal itself, only the house (garment) around it. This is easier to understand than the interior, therefore first he saw above, before seeing Chashmal itself below. Below the loins hints to the influence that goes to living beings. This was an understanding of Midas ha'Din going from Chayos to Ofanim to burn Beis Hashem. He saw Nogah (radiance), for the purpose of Din is to arouse and have mercy ¹ .