Midrasch zu Schemot 35:30

And Moses said unto the children of Israel: “See, the Lord hath called by name Bezalel the son of Uri” (Exod. 35:30). May it please our masters to teach us: How far must a person go to eliminate mixed materials (shatnez)?¹A biblical injunction prohibiting the wearing of a garment made of wool and linen. The law also proscribes the planting of heterogeneous plants in the same field. R. Simeon the son of Yohai concluded from the verse Neither shall there come upon thee a garment of two kinds of stuff mingled together (Lev. 19:19) that a man is prohibited from donning an outer garment of mixed material even though he puts it on over a hundred other garments. However, if he should put it on beneath his other garments, without the mixed material touching his body, he is permitted to do so, for it is said: Neither shall there come upon thee a garment of two kinds of stuff mingled together. The words upon thee signify that it may not be worn as an outer garment but that it may be placed underneath (i.e. closer to the body). The Holy One, blessed be He, said to Israel: Keep My commandments and My statues. Why? Because the consequence of a good deed is another good deed, but the result of committing a sin is another sin. Ben Azzai stated that one good deed results in another good deed, and one sin produces another sin. R. Meir said: For every good deed a man performs, an angel is assigned to watch over him. If he does one good deed, one angel is assigned to him, and if he performs many good deeds, many angels are assigned to him, as it is said: For he will give His angels charge over thee (Ps. 91:11). Every time a man increases the number of good deeds he performs, he adds to his good name. You find that a man is known by three names: the name by which his father and mother call him, the name by which other men call him, and the one he earns for himself; the most important name is the one he earns for himself.²His good deeds are apparent to all.

(Exod. 35:1:) THEN MOSES ASSEMBLED…. (Exod. 35:30:) AND MOSES SAID UNTO THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL: SEE, THE LORD HAS CALLED <BEZALEL…> BY NAME. This text is related (to Eccl. 7:1): A GOOD NAME IS BETTER THAN GOOD OIL; for in the case of good oil, how far does its fragrance travel?¹Exod. R. 48:1; Eccl. R. 7:1:1; M. Sam. 23; Parashiyyot miMidrash Tanhuma K.Y., in A. Jellinek, Beth ha-Midrasch (Leipzig: C.W. Vollrath, 1853–77, vol. 6, pp. 104–05. One or two miles?²Lat.: mille. But a good name travels the earth from one end to the other. Ergo (in Eccl. 7:1): A GOOD NAME IS BETTER THAN GOOD OIL.

Another interpretation (of Eccl. 7:1): A GOOD NAME <IS BETTER THAN GOOD OIL>. The name of Bezalel was better THAN GOOD OIL. Why? Because the scriptural verse has proclaimed⁷PRSM. Cf. the Greek word parresia, which means “boldness of speech.” it, where it is stated (in Exod. 35:30); AND MOSES SAID UNTO THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL: SEE, THE LORD HAS CALLED BEZALEL <…> BY NAME

[(Exod. 35:30:) SEE, THE LORD HAS CALLED BEZALEL <…> BY NAME.] This text is related (to Is. 40:25–26): THEN UNTO WHOM WILL YOU LIKEN ME THAT I SHOULD BE EQUAL? SAYS THE HOLY ONE. LIFT UP YOUR EYES ON HIGH <AND SEE: WHO CREATED THESE? >…. The Holy One said: THEN UNTO WHOM WILL YOU LIKEN ME? If <a person of> flesh and blood is walking in the darkness, when someone comes and gives him light, should he not be grateful to him?⁸Tanh., Exod. 10:4; Exod. R. 48:2. Now you are asleep at night when I cause the light to rise for you. Should you not be grateful to me? (Is. 40:26:) LIFT UP YOUR EYES ON HIGH <AND SEE; WHO CREATED THESE?>…. By virtue of what do they stand? THESE (in Gen. 2:4:): THE GENERATIONS OF THE HEAVENS AND THE EARTH?⁹These words would be more commonly rendered: THESE ARE THE GENERATIONS OF THE HEAVENS AND THE EARTH. By virtue of THESE (in Exod. 1:1): THE NAMES OF THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL.¹⁰These words would be more commonly rendered: NOW THESE ARE THE NAMES OF THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL. And these are by virtue of whom? By virtue of THESE (in Deut. 4:45): THE TESTIMONIES, THE STATUTES, AND THE JUDGMENTS.¹¹The words would be more commonly rendered: THESE ARE THE TESTIMONIES, THE STATUTES, AND THE JUDGMENTS.

Another interpretation (of Is. 40:26): HE CALLS THEM ALL BY NAME. So it is for above. Where is it shown for below? Where it is stated (in Exod. 35:30:) SEE, THE LORD HAS CALLED <BEZALEL…> BY NAME.

And Moses said unto the children of Israel: “See, the Lord hath called by name Bezalel” (Exod. 35:30). Scripture states elsewhere: So shalt thou find grace and favor in the sight of God and man (Prov. 3:4). How is this so? At the time that the Holy One, blessed be He, spoke to Moses on the mountain about the construction of the Sanctuary, He revealed to him every vessel that was to be made for the Sanctuary and how to make it, as it is said: And see that thou make them after their pattern (Exod. 25:40). Moses believed that he was to build the Sanctuary, since He had said to him: Thou shalt make the staves, thou shalt make a table, thou shalt make an altar, thou shalt make an ark-cover, and thou shalt make a basin. He told him all about the implements that were to be in the Sanctuary. After He had mentioned every item, Moses said: Master of the Universe, who will do all this? He replied: I have called by name, Bezalel.

For example, Bezalel, who built the ark, was extolled before the Holy One, blessed be He, and the angels. He was praised in the upper regions and in the terrestrial regions, as it is said: See, I have called by name Bezalel (Exod. 31:2) and See, the Lord hath called by name Bezalel (ibid. 35:30). The word see in the former verse speaks of the upper regions, and the word see in the latter verse refers to the terrestrial regions. Thus Scripture says: So shalt thou find grace and favor in the sight of God and man (Prov. 3:4).

See, the Lord hath called by name Bezalel (Exod. 35:30). Scripture says elsewhere: To whom then will ye liken Me, that I should be equal? saith the Lord. Lift up your eyes on high and see: Who hath created these? (Isa. 40:25–26).

(Exod. 35:30:) SEE, THE LORD HAS CALLED [BEZALEL BEN URI BEN HUR] <OF THE TRIBE OF JUDAH> BY NAME. What need was there for Hur to be mentioned here?¹²Tanh., Exod. 10:4; Exod. R. 48:3. It was simply that he had given his life for the Holy One.¹³See above, 9:13, and the note there. When Israel wanted to practice idolatry, he did not allow them. They arose and killed him. The Holy One said: By your life, I am repaying you. To what is the matter comparable? To a king whose legions¹⁴Lat.: legiones. rebelled.¹⁵Matthew 21:33–46; Mark 12:1–12; Luke 20:9–19. The commander of his army arose and fought with them. He said to them: You are rebelling against the king. They arose against him and killed him. The king came and said: Where is the head of my army? They said to him: The legions have killed him. The king said to him: By your life, if you had given money to me, I should have repaid you. Now you have given your life for me. By your life, to all the children which you have I will give world-wide fame. I will make them commanders¹⁶Lat.: duces. and governors.¹⁷Gk.: eparchoi. Similarly, Hur gave his life for the Holy One during the incident of the < golden > calf. The Holy One said to him: By your life, to all your children I will give world-wide fame. (Exod. 35:30–31:) SEE, THE LORD HAS CALLED <BEZALEL BEN URI BEN HUR OF THE TRIBE OF JUDAH> BY NAME; AND HE HAS FILLED HIM WITH THE DIVINE SPIRIT IN WISDOM, UNDERSTANDING, AND KNOWLEDGE. And < Scripture > does not speak about Bezalel alone, but about any who were engaged in the work of the tabernacle. In them the Holy One instilled understanding, wisdom and knowledge. It is so stated (in Exod. 36:8): THEN ALL THE WISE-HEARTED ONES < AMONG THE WORKERS MADE THE TABERNACLE >…. But out of all of them none was proclaimed <by name> except Bezalel. Thus it is stated (in Exod. 35:30:) SEE, THE LORD HAS CALLED BEZALEL <…> BY NAME.

See, the Lord hath called by name Bezalel the son of Uri the son of Hur (Exod. 35:30). Why was it necessary to mention Hur? Because he (Hur) sacrificed his life for the sake of the Holy One, blessed be He. When the people were eager to make the golden calf, he confronted them and rebuked them. Whereupon they attacked him and killed him. The Holy One, blessed be He, said: Be assured, I will reward you. To what may this be compared? To a king whose legions had rebelled. When the commanding officer arose and fought against them, and said, “You have rebelled against the king,” they killed him. The king came to them and asked: “Where is my commander-in-chief?” They replied: “The legionaries killed him.” The king cried out: “You gave your life for my life. If you had given me money, I could have repaid you, but since you have sacrificed your life for me, I will appoint all your descendants commanders and lieutenants.” Similarly, since Hur sacrificed his life for the sake of the Holy One, blessed be He, at the episode of the calf, the Holy One, blessed be He, said: Because you did this, I will make you known, and those who descend from you shall be known throughout the world, as it is said: See, the Lord hath called by name Bezalel the son of Uri the son of Hur.

See, he hath called by name Bezalel (Exod. 35:30). Observe what He did for Bezalel. The Holy One, blessed be He, instilled wisdom in his heart, as it is said: And he hath filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding, and in knowledge (ibid., v. 31). It was with these attributes the Holy One, blessed be He, created His world, as it is said: The Lord by wisdom founded the earth; by understanding He established the heavens; by knowledge the depths were broken up (Prov. 3:19–20). With these same attributes Bezalel erected the Tabernacle.

Now from where did all this glory come?¹⁸Tanh., Exod. 10:4; Exod. R. 48:4. From the tribe of Judah, since it is stated (in Exod. 35:30): <BEZALEL BEN URI BEN HUR> OF THE TRIBE OF JUDAH. This text is related (to Job 28:27–28): THEN HE SAW AND DECLARED IT; HE ESTABLISHED IT AND ALSO PROBED IT; AND HE SAID TO THE MAN (i.e., to Moses): SEE, THE FEAR OF THE LORD IS WISDOM; AND TO DEPART FROM EVIL IS UNDERSTANDING. R. Aha and our masters differ.¹⁹Gen. R. 24:5. Our masters say: Two times he uttered the oracle privately to himself. Then after that he spoke to Israel. Thus it is stated (in Job. 28:27): THEN HE SAW AND DECLARED IT. That was one <time>. (Ibid., cont.:) HE ESTABLISHED IT AND ALSO PROBED IT. That was the second <time>. Then after that he said (in vs. 28): AND HE SAID TO THE MAN (Moses). But R. Aha said: Four times, as stated (in vs. 27): THEN HE SAW AND DECLARED IT; HE ESTABLISHED IT AND ALSO PROBED IT.²⁰Exod. R.40:1. Ergo: Four times.²¹R. Aha understands each verb as referring to a separate revision of the oracle. From whom do you learn it? From Jochebed²²Moses’ mother. and Miriam. What is written (in Exod. 1:15)? THEN THE KING OF EGYPT {PROCLAIMED} [SAID] TO THE <HEBREW> MIDWIVES.²³The midrash assumes that the midwives were Jochebed and Miriam, even though Exod. 1:15 names them Shiphrah and Puah. On the identification of Jochebed and Miriam with Shiphrah and Puah, see Sot. 11b; Sifre to Numb. 10:29–36 (78); Exod. R. 1:16. What did he say to them (in vs. 16)? LOOK AT THE BIRTHSTOOL. Why did he do so? Because the astrologers²⁴Gk.; astrologoi. had said to them: On this day the redeemer of Israel shall be born, but we do not know whether he is an Egyptian or not. At that time he assembled all the Egyptians and said to them: Lend me your sons for one day, since it is stated (in Exod. 1:22): EVERY SON BORN <YOU SHALL THROW INTO THE NILE>. "< Every son> of Israel" is not written here, but EVERY SON, whether Israelite or Egyptian. (Exod. 1:17:) BUT THE MIDWIVES FEARED <GOD>. So how did the Holy One repay them? (Vs. 3:) HE ESTABLISHED HOUSEHOLDS FOR THEM: Priestly households, Levitical households, and kingship. Jochebed received priesthood and kingship as her reward < through her sons>, Moses²⁵According to Deut. 33:5, HE (Moses) BECAME KING IN JESHURUN. See Tanh., Exod. 10:4; Exod. R. 48:4. and Aaron. What did Miriam receive as her reward? Wisdom, for it is stated (in Job 28:28): SEE, THE FEAR OF THE LORD IS WISDOM. From her he brought forth Bezalel, who was wise, as stated (in Exod. 31:3): AND I HAVE FILLED HIM WITH THE DIVINE SPIRIT <IN WISDOM, UNDERSTANDING, AND KNOWLEDGE >.

It is written: So shalt thou find grace and good favor in the sight of God and man (Prov. 3:4). Every person loved by his king is also loved by the king’s courtiers, but if he is loved by the courtiers he is not necessarily loved by the king. The righteous, however, are loved by the Holy One, blessed be He, by the angels, and by all creatures. Whence do we know this to be so? You find that when the angel visited Daniel he called him greatly beloved three times: And he said unto me: Daniel, thou man greatly beloved, give heed unto the words that I speak unto thee (Dan. 10:11); O man, greatly beloved, fear not! (ibid., v. 19); and And I come to declare it, for greatly beloved art thou (ibid. 9:23). Why was he called greatly beloved? Happy indeed is the man who hears an angel calling unto him: O man, greatly beloved, for that man is beloved by the Holy One, blessed be He, extolled by the heavenly bodies, and adored by his generation. Similarly, Bezalel was loved by the Holy One, blessed be He, by those on high, and by those on earth, as is said: See, I have called by name Bezalel (Exod. 31:20), and it is written elsewhere: See, the Lord hath called Bezalel by name (ibid. 35:30). The word see in the latter verse refers to the heavenly beings, and the word see in the former verse alludes to the earthly beings. Hence, Scripture states: So shalt thou find grace and good favor in the sight of God and man (Prov. 3:4).

Another interpretation (of Exod. 35:30): SEE, THE LORD HAS CALLED [… IN WISDOM, UNDERSTANDING, AND KNOWLEDGE]. See the wisdom, [understanding, and knowledge] which I have instilled in his heart (i.e., the heart of Bezalel).²⁶So according to the parallel in Tanh., Exod. 10:5. By these three things were heaven and earth created,²⁷Exod. R. 48:4. as stated (in Prov. 3:19–20): THROUGH WISDOM THE LORD FOUNDED THE EARTH; HE ESTABLISHED THE HEAVENS THROUGH UNDERSTANDING; [THROUGH HIS KNOWLEDGE THE DEPTHS BURST APART]. Moreover, by these three things was the Tabernacle made, as stated (in Exod. 31:3): AND I HAVE FILLED HIM WITH THE DIVINE SPIRIT IN WISDOM, UNDERSTANDING, AND KNOWLEDGE. Again, by these three things was the Temple made, as stated (in I Kings 7:14): HE (i.e., Hiram) WAS THE SON OF A WIDOW…; AND HE WAS FILLED WITH WISDOM, UNDERSTANDING, AND KNOWLEDGE. And also in the world to come the Temple shall be built on these three things, [as stated (in Prov. 24:3–4): THROUGH WISDOM SHALL A HOUSE BE BUILT, BY UNDERSTANDING SHALL IT BE ESTABLISHED, AND BY KNOWLEDGE SHALL ITS ROOMS BE FILLED WITH ALL PRECIOUS AND LOVELY RICHES. Ergo (in Exod. 31:3): AND I HAVE FILLED HIM <WITH THE DIVINE SPIRIT IN WISDOM, UNDERSTANDING, AND KNOWLEDGE >….

(Fol. 69b) Whence do we know that the first generations produced children at eight years? This is to be inferred from the following: (Ex. 35, 30) Bezaleel, the son of Uri, the son of Chur, of the tribe of Judah; and it is written (I Chron. 2, 10-20) And when Azubah, the wife of Caleb, died, Caleb took unto himself Ephrath, who bore unto him Chur. And Chur begot Uri, and Uri begot Bezaleel. And when Bezaleel was engaged in building the Tabernacle, he was at least thirteen years old, as it is written (Ex. 36, 4) Every man from his own work which they were doing; and one is not called a man before the age of thirteen. And there is a Baraitha: The first year Moses prepared all that was necessary for the Tabernacle, and in the second year he erected it and sent the spies. And it is written (Joshua 14, 7) Forty years old was I when Moses the servant of the Lord sent me, etc. Behold, I am this day eighty and five years old. Now, deduct fourteen, the age of Bezaaleel, from the forty of Joshua, when he was sent as a spy, and there remained twenty-six; deduct two years for the three pregnancies with Uri, Chur and Bezaleel, and there remain twentyfour. Hence each of them produced at the age of eight.

(Fol. 55a) R. Jochanan said: "Three things God Himself proclaimeth: Famine, plenty and a good chief of the community. Famine, as it is written (II Kings 8. 7.)' The Lord hath called for a famine; Plenty, as it is written (Ezek. 36, 29.) And I will call for corn and increase it; A good chief of the community, as it is written (Ex. 31, 2.) Behold, I have called by name, Bezalel." R. Isaac said: "A chief of a community is not to be appointed unless the community be consulted first; as it is written (Ex. 35, 30.) And Moses said to the children of Israel, behold God hath called by name Bezalel. i.e., The Holy One, praised be He! said thus to Moses, 'Moses! is Bezalel worthy enough for you?' 'Sovereign of the universe,' replied Moses, 'if he is worthy in thine eyes, then he certainly is worthy enough for me.' Then said God to him: 'Consult then, the children of Israel.' Moses thereupon went and said thus to the children of Israel: 'Is Bezalel worthy of you?' They said, 'If he is worthy for the Holy One, praised be He! and for thee, then he is surely worthy enough for us.' " R. Samuel b. Nachmeini in the name of R. Jonathan said: "The name Bezalel was given to him because of his wisdom; for when the Holy One, praised be He! said unto Moses, ' Go, tell Bezalel to erect for me a Mishkan, ark and vessels.' Moses went and told it to him in the reverse order — make ark, vessels and a Mishkan. [Upon hearing the order] Bezalel said: 'Moses, our teacher, the custom of the world is that a man first builds a house and then brings into it vessels, and thou sayest to me I should first make the ark, and then the Mishkan; where shall I put the vessels if I make them first? Perhaps the Holy One, praised be He! said first Mishkan and then the ark and the vessels?' Thereupon Moses said to him: 'Perhaps in the shadow of God hast thou been that thou knowest.'" [Thus Bezalel means — Bezal (in the shadow), El (of God)]. R. Juda said in the name of Rab: "Bezalel knew how to arrange the letters with which heaven and earth were created, for it is written here (Ex. 35, 31.) And He hath filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom (Chachma) in uderstanding (Bithbuna), and in knowledge, and it is written (Pr. 3, 19.) The Lord hath founded the earth through wisdom (Chachma); He hath established the heavens through understanding (Tebuna). And it is further written By His knowledge were the depths split open." R. Jochanan said: "The Holy One, praised be He! doth not give wisdom to a man unless he possesses some; as it is said (Dan. 2, 21.) Who giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to those who possess understanding." When R. Tachalifa of the west (Palesine) heard this he went and related it to R. Abuhu, whereupon the latter replied: "What you infer from that passage, we derive from another; it is written (Ex. 31, 6.) And in the heart of all that are wise-hearted have I put wisdom."