What is the significance of Chachmah, Binah and (in verse 20) Da'as?
Rashi: They are in Torah. The entire world was created from [these aspects of] Torah!
R. Yonah: They always appear in this order, also "b'Chachmah Yibaneh Bayis uvi'Svunah Yiskonan; uv'Da'as Chadarim Yimal'u [Kol Hon Yakar v'Na'im 1 ]" (24:3-4), "v'Nachah Alav Ru'ach Hashem Ru'ach Chachmah u'Vinah Ru'ach Etzah u'Gevurah Ru'ach Da'as v'Yir'as Hashem" (Yeshayah 11:2). Da'as is needed to get to fear. Chachmah is first - "v'Ozen Chachamim 2 ", "Chacham Yechashev" (18:15, 17:28). Navon is understanding a matter amidst another matter. From this he comes to Da'as. A matter that he cannot find something amidst which to understand it, he will understand from his judgment. This requires Kedushah and fear - "v'Da'as Kedoshim", "Lev Navon Yikneh Da'as" (9:10, 18:15). 'If there is no Binah, there is no Da'as. If there is no Da'as, there is no Binah' (Avos 3:17).
Malbim: Everything in Chachmah has two opposite ways. When Hashem created Yesh me'Ayin, His intent included other possibilities. He chose to create it in this way based on the supreme Chachmah. He created worlds and destroyed them, until he said these are 'benefit' for Me; the others are not (Bereishis Rabah 3:7). After He made Yesh me'Ayin, there was no other way to make Yesh mi'Yesh, only based on what was prepared in the first substance. The Midrash compares this to one who sowed six seeds at once; each sprouts in its time. This corresponds to Tevunah, which has only one way. A matter came from a matter, like the laws of Tevunah.
Malbim: The verse attributes building the house to Chachmah, completion of the building (Kinun) to Tevunah, and filling the rooms with dear Kelim to Da'as. So it attributes the general building (the world), the Yesod (foundation) to Chachmah, completion to Tevunah, and filling the 'rooms' (world) with Birkas Hashem via the Tehomos (depths of water) and dew of Shamayim to Da'as. The land is the Yesod, and Shamayim is the roof, which completes the Binyan - "ha'Boneh va'Shamayim Ma'alosav" (Amos 9:6). The Tehomos, dew and rain fill the world with all good and Brachah. The foundation - Yesh me'Ayin (creation of substance from nothingness) - is attributed to Chachmah. Targum (Yerushalmi) of "Bereishis" (Bereishis 1:1) b'Chuchma. The completion during the six days of creation (Yesh mi'Yesh) is attributed to Tevunah. Conduct of the world after creation is compared to filling the rooms with dear Kelim.
R. Yonah: Chachmah is what one learns from his Rebbeyim.
Why is Shamayim attributed to Tevunah?
R. Yonah, from Chagigah 12a: Beis Shamai learns from "Bereishis Bara Elokim Es ha'Shamayim v'Es ha'Aretz" (Bereishis 1:1) that Shamayim was created first. Beis Hillel learn from "ba'Yom Asos Hashem Elokim Eretz v'Shamayim" (Bereishis 2:4). Reish Lakish resolved, Hashem created Shamayim first. When he stretched them, he stretched Eretz first. This is why Eretz is attributed to Chachmah, for it is before Tevunah (to which Shamayim, which was stretched afterwards, is attributed).
R. Yonah (20): Shamayim is more honored than Eretz, which is attributed to Chachmah 1 .
Malbim: Refer to 3:20:1:2.
I.e. Tevunah is more honored than Chachmah. Perhaps it is because one toiled to add to his knowledge. Even though this does not apply to Hashem, the metaphor is based on human intellect. (PF)
Why is Yasad in past tense, and Chonen is present tense?
Vilna Gaon: The land was made with Chachmah - "v'Ein Kol Chadash Tachas ha'Shamesh" (Koheles 1:9). In Shamayim, there are new Chidushim via Tevunah - "Chadashim la'Bekarim" (Eichah 3:23), ha'Mechadesh b'Chol Yom Ma'ase Bereishis.
