Les Proverbes 8:24 Midrash : Bereshit Rabbah & Midrash Tehillim

A certain philosopher once asked Rabban Gamliel, saying to him: ‘Your God is a great artist, however he found many excellent raw materials that helped him: Emptiness, disorder, darkness, wind, water, and depths.’ He said to him: ‘May the spirit of that man depart from him; regarding all of them, creation is written.’³²God did not “find” these materials; He created them Himself. Emptiness and disorder, as it is stated: “Who makes peace and creates evil” (Isaiah 45:7). Darkness, “who forms light [and creates darkness]” (Isaiah 45:7); water, “Praise Him, heavens on heavens, and the water [above the heavens]” (Psalms 148:4). Why? “For He commanded and they were created” (Psalms 148:5). Wind, “For behold, He forms mountains and creates wind” (Amos 4:13); depths, “when there were no depths, I generated” (Proverbs 8:24).

Praise God from the earth and so forth. Isaiah said (Isaiah 43:7), "everyone who is called by My name, and so forth." The Lord did not create man except for His glory. As it is said (Proverbs 16:4), "The Lord has made everything for its own purpose, and so forth." He created them to praise Him. As it is said (Psalms 19:2), "The heavens declare the glory of God, and so forth." Just as the heavens and all that is in them praise Him, so too does the earth and all that is in it praise Him. As it is said, "Praise God from the earth." Everyone praises the King. And who praises Him first? The sons of the palace, and afterwards the sons of the province. Therefore, it is said, "Praise God from the heavens, and so forth." After they praised Him in the heavens. And who praises Him first? One who is greater than his companion. And who are these great ones? The sea monsters. As it is said (Genesis 1:21), "God created the great sea monsters." Therefore, they praise Him first. As it is said, "Sea monsters and all depths." And how many depths are there that have not been explored? As it is said (Proverbs 8:24), "When there were no depths I was brought forth." And it is written (Exodus 15:5), "The depths covered them." And until now, no one knows how many there are. Until the sons of Korah said (Psalms 42:8), "Deep calls to deep, and so forth." Therefore, it is said, "Sea monsters and all depths." Let all praise the name of God.