Ben Levi: You should have continued your earlier post concerning the Pirush Hamishnyaos. You quote the Rambam as far as the “third group” , yet you did not continue his words where he says the following: the “chachomims’ words are like a “chidoh” (puzzle) and have a deeper meaning .Then the Rambam quotes “chochom mikol odom” (Shlomo Hamelech) in his books of “mishlei and “Shir hashirim” and says we sould not interpret his words literally but as an example. He continues and quotes other Pessukim in Tenach (including Sefer Iyov) that have an inner meaning and because of that, chazal’s words too should not always be taken literally.
It is clear from the Rambam’s words that he is talking about the interpretaiton of sifrei Tenach, certain Pessukim and ultimately some divrei Chazal.
He is not talking about natural sciences or astronomy but about matters that puzzle us (Shir Hashirim,for ex. Sefer Iyov too)and that, in those circumstances, the inner meaning is what we should know.
If you want to believe that the gemoros that have to do with the solar system, certain animals (lice, rats,etc), medicine and such matters also are written in “sod” form ,you are welcome to it. I wrote in an earlier posting that,at times, we must accept the chazal’s words as written and deal with it accordingly.
What the Rambam writes in Pirush Hamishnayos has to do with the allegorical aspect of certain Sifrei Tenach and their own puzzling words. ( I gave an example of “Yaakov lo mes” earlier)It has been amply demonstrated by others that it does not include natural sciences.