And thus you find with the ways of the L-rd — that whatever is more beloved (by the L-rd) precedes its neighbor. Torah, the most beloved of all, precedes all, as it is written (Proverbs 8:22) "The L-rd acquired me (Torah) in the beginning of His way, before His works of yore," and (Ibid. 23) "I was poured out from everlasting, from the beginning, from the origin of the earth." (The Temple, the most beloved of all (edifices), was created before all, viz. (Jeremiah 17:12) "The throne of glory, exalted from the first, the place of our sanctuary."
Eretz Yisrael, the most beloved of all (lands), was created before all, viz. (Proverbs 8:26) "He had not yet made land and environs": "land" — the other lands; "environs" — deserts. (Ibid.) "and the chief of the class of tevel" — Eretz Yisrael, as it is written (Ibid. 31) "He rejoices His land with tevel."