36. Another explanation of "and the earth" is that the words include the lower earth, which was made of compartments as was the upper EARTH. And this is WHAT IS MEANT BY, "and the earth was without form and void; and darkness... And the wind..." And the compartments of the earth are called Eretz (earth), adamah (soil), Gey (valley), Neshiyah (oblivion), Tziyah (dryness), Arka (ground), and Tevel (world). The major level of earth is Tevel, about which it is written: "And He will judge the world (Heb. tevel) in righteousness" (Tehilim 9:8). THIS IS NOT SAID ABOUT ANY OTHER LEVEL OF EARTH, AND THUS WE INFER THAT IT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT.

38. "Formlessness" is the earth called Neshiyah (oblivion). IT IS SO CALLED BECAUSE it has no appearance so that it is completely forgotten. It is therefore called oblivion. "Void" is Arka (ground), a place that cannot be forgotten. Rabbi Chiya DISAGREES AND says, "this earth called Gey (valley) IS VOID, NOT ARKA (GROUND)." And the words, "a wind (also: 'spirit') of Elohim hovers," allude to the EARTH CALLED Tevel (world), which feeds from the spirit of Elohim, NAMELY FROM THE SPIRIT OF BINAH CALLED ELOHIM. They are all parts of the same level.