Why is בְּרֵאשִׁית used in Bereshit 1:1 but תְּחִלָה used in Shoftim 1:1? Both words mean beginning/first as far as I can tell. I am just wondering why one is used in one location and the other one in the other location.
Answer
The Malbim explains that תחילה applies to time, negates previous conditions and is regardless of following events. ראשון applies to sequence (ie. there will be following events) and doesn't imply a negation of anything previous to it.
He explains that תחילה wouldn't be appropriate to use in place of בראשית because it negates any time before it. There was no time before creation to negate, so תחילה would be inappropriate.
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