איוב, פרק כ״ח, פסוק כ״ז

Before the universe was formed, supreme wisdom served as the master plan for all of creation. At the very dawn of time, when God was bringing the world into existence, He used this wisdom to create, order, and guide all of reality [רמב״ן, מצודת דוד]. God first observed this wisdom, looking deeply into it and using its counsel as the foundation to establish the earth and perform all His works [רש״י, רמב״ן].

In applying this wisdom, there are different ways to understand how God enacted it. One approach suggests that God recorded this wisdom as if writing it in a book so that it would endure forever, cementing it as the fixed law and natural order of the universe [מצודת דוד, מצודת ציון, רלב״ג, אבן עזרא, שטיינזלץ]. Another perspective is that God calculated and measured every precise detail of this wisdom [אבן עזרא, שטיינזלץ, מלבי״ם]. Through this exactness, God transitioned wisdom from an abstract thought into a concrete reality, bringing its potential into actual existence [מלבי״ם].

God then prepared and summoned this wisdom for the act of creation [רש״י]. He carefully arranged it so that it would perfectly match and support the physical reality He was about to manage [מצודת דוד, מלבי״ם]. Furthermore, God delved into the profound depths of this wisdom to ensure that every created being received its exact and appropriate portion [תקוות אנוש]. This deep investigation was necessary to tailor the management of the world to the actions of human beings. Because humans possess free will, the world required a highly precise system of reward and punishment. God brought this wisdom down to the earthly realm so that people, using their intellect, could grasp and learn from it as much as their capacities allow [מלבי״ם]. If a person struggles to fully understand the immense value of this wisdom, the fear of God and good character traits serve as a substitute, providing the completeness that is required [תקוות אנוש].

From a different angle, the sequence of God's actions during creation can be seen as a hint to the four layers of Torah study that He gifted to humanity. His initial observation represents the hidden, mystical secrets of the Torah. The act of recording the wisdom points to the Written Torah or its interpretive teachings. Preparing the wisdom relates to the allegorical hints or the Mishnah. Lastly, His deep investigation represents the rigorous study and deep analysis found in the Oral Torah [אלשיך].