Bezalel

Grandson of Calab and Miriam; Bezalel ("in the shadow of God") was so named for
his wisdom (Berachot 55a). (Bezalel's name is also found as Bezaleel)

A SPECIAL MAN

Clearly the Mishkan is one of the major topics of the Book of Exodus as is
evidenced by the amount of space and detail devoted to the description of its
construction.

The minutely detailed instructions were given to Moses, but implemented by a man
named Bezalel. Who was this individual -- Moses' "right hand man" in the project?

The Torah tells us:

God spoke to Moses saying, 'See I have called by name Bezalel, son of Uri son of
Hur, from the tribe of Judah. And I will fill him with the spirit of Elohim -- with
wisdom, understanding, and knowledge." [Exodus 31:1-3, see also, 35:30-31, 38:32]

From this description it does not sound as if Bezalel is endowed with the critical
attributes as of yet. The verse tells us that God plans to "fill up with the spirit of
Elohim," using the future tense.

If this is the case, what is the reason for his selection?

Furthermore, the phrase "See I have called by name Bezalel" implies that there is
something special about his name.

So, on the one hand, the architect of the Mishkan does not yet possess the skills
needed to perform the task, and on the other hand there is something about Bezalel
which God has singled out, something which is indeed a part of his essence


Bezalel went up to Mount Sinai, where he was shown the construction of the
Tabernacle as if it were already made in Heaven (Midrash Shir HaShirim, ed.
Buber 32).

For Bezalel’s extreme dedication to the building of the Tabernacle, the Holy One,
Blessed is He, did not withhold his reward. Scripture made him known over every
item that was constructed; that is, "Bezalel made the table, Bezalel made the
altar..." (Shemot Rabbah 50:3).

"Bezalel made the Ark" (Exodus 37:1). Why did the other wise men who made the
Tabernacle not make the Ark? Because Bezalel kept the covenant, he earned this
privilege (Zohar 2:214b).

His destiny was revealed by the Holy One to Moses: "See, I have called by name
Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah; and I have filled him
with the spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all
manner of workmanship, to devise skillful works, to work in gold, and in silver, and
in brass, and in cutting of stones for setting, and in carving of wood, to work in all
manner of workmanship" (Exodus 31:1-5). Not a bad curriculum vitae. Not only
was he Divinely recommended, Bezalel finished the work on time! That is, with
Oholiab’s assistance, this master craftsman constructed the tent of meeting, the ark
of the testimony, the ark-cover, the table and its vessels, the candlestick, the altar
and its vessels, the priestly garments for Aaron and his sons.

So redoubtable was Bezalel’s skill and knowledge that the Jewish-Greek
philosopher, Philo, viewed the artisan as a symbol of pure knowledge. Indeed, his
very name begs for interpretation, and the rabbis do not hesitate. Although his
lineage is traced to the aristocratic tribe of Dan, he transcends his earthly roots and
acquires an existence and a reputation that can only be described as Heavenly.
Dwell "in the shadow of God" and great mysteries shall be revealed to you. The
meaning of Bezalel’s name heralded his future as an artist and artisan, even though
he could have not possibly apprenticed for this craft in the Wilderness. Whence his
greatness? Whence the greatness of any of Judaism’s Gedolei HaDor - "Most
Exalted of Each Generation?" Bezalel’s story adheres to a common Biblical motif.
That is, it was all preordained. As Philo reckoned, what distinguished Bezalel from
Moses is that the former knew God by seeing the "Divine shadow," that is by
seeing only God’s works; whereas the latter saw only God Himself.

Loved and adored by his admiring contemporaries and awestruck future religionists,
Bezalel was granted five other names: Reaiah ("the seer"), Shobal ("the builder of
the dovecote," a synonym for the "Tabernacle"), Jahat ("the dreadful"), Ahumai
("the unifier of Israel"), and Lahad ("one who beautified Israel," or "one who was
near to the poor") (Exodus Rabbah 40:4).

Bezalel made (the ark); since he displayed more self-sacrifice than the other sages,
the ark was called by his name. [Rashi 37:1]

Rashi's statement is based on a source in a Midrash which recounts a dialogue
between Moses and Bezalel:

At the time that God told Moses to make the Mishkan, he (Moses) came and told
Bezalel, he (Bezalel) said, "What is the purpose of the Mishkan?" He (Moses)
answered, "That God may allow His Presence to rest within it, and thereby teach
Torah to Israel." Bezalel said to him, "Where will the Torah be placed?" He
answered, "After we build the Mishkan we will build the Aron." He said, "Moses,
our master, this is not honor for the Torah, rather first we should make the Aron and
then make the Mishkan. Therefore the Aron was called in his name." [Shmot
Rabbah 50:2]

Bezalel's wisdom was such that he could question Moses and ultimately understand
the essence of the Mishkan. Indeed, Bezalel was the builder of the entire Mishkan,
but the heart and soul of the Mishkan, the Aron, was named for him.

The Aron was built, in the words of the Midrash, to allow God's presence to dwell
amongst the People of Israel -- in order to teach them Torah.

Nachmanides {25:2] writes that the purpose of the Mishkan was that the experience
of Mount Sinai accompany the Jews on all of their travels.

This seems to be what Bezalel understood: The essential purpose of the Mishkan is
to teach Torah to the Jewish people; consequently, the Aron must be built prior to
the Mishkan. When the Cloud of Glory, last seen on Mount Sinai, entered into the
Mishkan upon its completion, it was clear that the project was a success. God now
dwelled among the people, or perhaps we can say that the People now dwelled in
the shadow of God.

As Rashi stated, Bezalel was prepared for self-sacrifice in building the Aron, just
as his grandfather had been, but with one important distinction -- his grandfather
gave up his life attempting to prevent sin. Bezalel tried to prevent sin preemptively,
by making sure that God would always be felt, and the Torah constantly taught.

Bezalel achieved a clarity of vision, an understanding of his mission and of the
power of Torah as the most direct connection of the Jews to God, which paralleled
the clarity achieved at Sinai.

Many years later, another descendant of Hur [see Sotah 11b] named David would
be king. He would be endowed with special qualities that would allow him to
establish kingship in Israel. His son Solomon would follow, ascending the throne at
the tender age of twelve.

I can find no record of Bezalel having children or a wife.

Biblical Account of Building the Ark.

Choice of Artisans. The LORD said to Moses, "See, I have chosen Bezalel, son of
Uri, son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, and I have filled him with a divine spirit of
skill and understanding and knowledge in every craft: in the production of
embroidery, in making things of gold, silver or bronze, in cutting and mounting
precious stones, in carving wood, and in every craft.

As his assistant I have appointed Oholiab, son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan. I
have also endowed all the experts with the necessary skill to make all the things I
have ordered you to make: the meeting tent, the ark of the commandments with the
propitiatory on top of it, all the furnishings of the tent, the table with its
appurtenances, the pure gold lampstand with all its appurtenances, the altar of
incense, the altar of holocausts with all its appurtenances, the laver with its base,
the service cloths, the sacred vestments for Aaron the priest, the vestments for his
sons in their ministry, the anointing oil, and the fragrant incense for the sanctuary.
All these things they shall make just as I have commanded you." (Ex. 31:1-11)

Collection of materials for the Arc. Moses assembled the whole Israelite
community and said to them, "This is what the LORD has commanded to be done.
On six days work may be done, but the seventh day shall be sacred to you as the
sabbath of complete rest to the LORD. Anyone who does work on that day shall be
put to death.

You shall not even light a fire in any of your dwellings on the sabbath day." Moses
told the whole Israelite community, "This is what the LORD has commanded:

Take up among you a collection for the LORD. Everyone, as his heart prompts
him, shall bring, as a contribution to the LORD, gold, silver and bronze; violet,
purple and scarlet yarn; fine linen and goat hair; rams' skins dyed red, and tahash
skins; acacia wood; oil for the light; spices for the anointing oil and for the fragrant
incense; onyx stones and other gems for mounting on the ephod and on the
breastpiece.

"Let every expert among you come and make all that the LORD has commanded:
the Dwelling, with its tent, its covering, its clasps, its boards, its bars, its columns
and its pedestals; the ark, with its poles, the propitiatory, and the curtain veil; the
table, with its poles and all its appurtenances, and the showbread; the lampstand,
with its appurtenances, the lamps, and the oil for the light; the altar of incense, with
its poles; the anointing oil, and the fragrant incense; the entrance curtain for the
entrance of the Dwelling; the altar of holocausts, with its bronze grating, its poles,
and all its appurtenances; the laver, with its base; the hangings of the court, with
their columns and pedestals; the curtain for the entrance of the court; the tent pegs
for the Dwelling and for the court, with their ropes; the service cloths for use in the
sanctuary; the sacred vestments for Aaron, the priest, and the vestments worn by
his sons in their ministry."

When the whole Israelite community left Moses' presence, everyone, as his heart
suggested and his spirit prompted, brought a contribution to the LORD for the
construction of the meeting tent, for all its services, and for the sacred vestments.
Both the men and the women, all as their heart prompted them, brought brooches,
earrings, rings, necklaces and various other gold articles. Everyone who could
presented an offering of gold to the LORD.

Everyone who happened to have violet, purple or scarlet yarn, fine linen or goat
hair, rams' skins dyed red or tahash skins, brought them. Whoever could make a
contribution of silver or bronze offered it to the LORD; and everyone who
happened to have acacia wood for any part of the work, brought it.

All the women who were expert spinners brought hand-spun violet, purple and
scarlet yarn and fine linen thread. All the women who possessed the skill, spun goat
hair. The princes brought onyx stones and other gems for mounting on the ephod
and on the breastpiece; as well as spices, and oil for the light, anointing oil, and
fragrant incense.

Every Israelite man and woman brought to the LORD such voluntary offerings as
they thought best, for the various kinds of work which the LORD had commanded
Moses to have done. Moses said to the Israelites, "See, the LORD has chosen
Bezalel, son of Uri, son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, and has filled him with a
divine spirit of skill and understanding and knowledge in every craft: in the
production of embroidery, in making things of gold, silver or bronze, in cutting and
mounting precious stones, in carving wood, and in every other craft.

He has also given both him and Oholiab, son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, the
ability to teach others. He has endowed them with skill to execute all types of
work: engraving, embroidering, the making of variegated cloth of violet, purple and
scarlet yarn and fine linen thread, weaving, and all other arts and crafts. (Exodus,
Chapter 35)

Building the Arc. "Bezalel, therefore, will set to work with Oholiab and with all
the experts whom the LORD has endowed with skill and understanding in knowing
how to execute all the work for the service of the sanctuary, just as the LORD has
commanded." Moses then called Bezalel and Oholiab and all the other experts
whom the LORD had endowed with skill, men whose hearts moved them to come
and take part in the work. Bezalel made the ark of acacia wood, two and a half
cubits long, one and a half cubits wide, and one and a half cubits high. However, it
was Bezalel, son of Uri, son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, who made all that the
Lord commanded Moses, and he was assisted by Oholiab, son of Ahisamach, of the
tribe of Dan, who was an engraver, an embroiderer, and a weaver of variegated
cloth of violet, purple and scarlet yarn and of fine linen. (Ex. 36:1-2; 37:1,
38:22-23)