I haven't studied this Ramban since 2004, Roy. There is so little time in
this life, and so much beauty to tap into.

Rabbi Nechunia ben Hakaneh, Sefer HaBahir. What is meant by what is
written, and the land was tohu and bohu? Emptiness and void. That it was
tohu beforehand. And what is meant by bohu? The Torah is telling us that
it was tohu at first and what is tohu? Something that brings astonishment to
people andthen it changed to bohu. And what is bohu? Something that has
substance, as if it were written, bet vav hey vav alef, there is substance
in it.

So according to Ramban: In the beginning, God created out of nothing the
heavens, for He brought their primary matter (hule) into existence out of
nothing. and the earth, for He brought its primary matter (hule) into
existence out of nothing as well.

Tohu, matter without substance and subsequently it was bohu, for He endowed
it with form.

After this Scripture elaborates further that this form included the form of
four elements, fire, water, earth and air.


shhaym ha aish
vhamayim
vheyawfawr
vhawahveer

Haaretz, the earht, in the earth was tohu and bohu, encompasses these for
elements.