Rabbi Berachiah said: What is the meaning of the verse (Genesis 1:3), "And God said, 'Let there be light,' and there was light"? Why does the verse not say, "And it was so"? What is this like? A king had a beautiful object. He puts it away until he had a place for it, and then he put it there. It is therefore written, "Let there be light, and there was light." This indicates that it already existed.
Rabbi Amorai said: What is the meaning of the verse (Exodus 15:3), "God is a man (אִישׁ) of war"? Mar Rahumai said to him: Great master, do not ask about something that is so simple. Listen to me and I will advise you. He said to him: What is this like? A king had a number of beautiful dwellings, and he gave each one a name. One was better than the other. He said, "I will give my son this dwelling whose name is א. This one whose name is י is also good, as is this one whose name is ש." What did he do then? He gathered all three together, and out of them he made a single name and a single house. He said: How long will you continue to conceal your meaning? The other replied: My son, א is the head. י is second to it. ש includes all the world. Why does ש include all the world? Because with it one writes an answer (תְּשׁוּבָה).