Baal HaTurim

There is a midrash (Bereishit Rabbah 1), that the reason why [the Torah] opened with a "bet" and not with an "aleph", is because the "bet" has a connotation of blessing ("B"racha), and "aleph" has a connotation of cursing ("A"rirah). The Holy One, blessed be He, said: I will open with a "bet", with a connotation of blessing, and if it would only be that it should be able to be fulfilled! Alternatively: [The reason the Torah opens with a "bet", which equals two in gematria] is because of the two worlds that were created, this world and the world to come. Alternatively: [The reason the Torah opens with a "bet", which equals two in gematria] is because of the two Torahs, the written Torah, and the oral Torah, to teach you that the world was created in the merit of the Torah and its learners. Bereishit: The [same Hebrew] letters as "Bet Resh" [="first house"], meaning the first Temple, as it says (Jeremiah 17:12) "An honorable throne, exalted from the beginning, the place of our Temple." Alternatively: The [same Hebrew] letters as "A' B'Tishrei" [="1st of Tishrei"], which was when the world was created. Alternatively: The [same Hebrew] letters as "Yirei Shabbat" [="Awe of the Sabbath"], to tell you that the world was created in the merit of Shabbat. Alternatively: The [same Hebrew] letters as "Brit Aish" [="Covenant, Fire"], that in the merit of "covenant", which is circumcision, and in the merit of fire, which is the Torah, we will be saved from the judgement of Gehinnom. Alternatively: The [same Hebrew] letters as "Briat Yesh" [="Creation of something/310"], for the creation of 310 worlds for every righteous individual.

Ba'al HaTurim on Genesis 1:1:1 · Sefaria Community Translation

ויגש אליו יהודה: ס"ת שוא. שאמר לו אני שוה לך שכמו שאתה מלך גם אני מלך. ועל זה דורש במדרש (בראשית רבה צ"ג, ב') כי הנה המלכים נועדו (תהילים מ"ח, ה'):

Then Judah approached him: The last letters of these three words create שָׁוֶה (equal.) Judah said to Joseph, "I am equal to you, just as you are a king, I am a king." And for this he demands in the Midrash (Bereishit Rabbah 93:6) For behold the kings have assembled (Psalms 48:5).

Ba'al HaTurim on Genesis 44:18:1 · Sefaria Community Translation

ויקרא יעקב אל בניו: שביקש לגלות להם הקץ ונסתם ממנו (פסחים נו.). אמר יעקב שמא יש בכם חטא. אמרו לו תדקדק בשמותנו ולא תמצא בהם אותיות חט. ואמר להם קם אין בהם אותיות קץ (עיין ירושלמי יומא ס״פ ז׳, בבלי שם עג:).

Then Yaakov called for his son's: He sought to reveal the appointed time for the end but it became concealed from him (Pesachim 56a.) Yaakov asks, "Perhaps there is sin (חטא) among you?" They said, "No, if you examine our names, you will not find the letters ח or ט in them. Then he said unto them, "Arise, there is also no ק or ץ letters (end) in them.

Ba'al HaTurim on Genesis 49:1:1 · Sefaria Community Translation