Bezalel

By: Marcus Jastrow, Wilhelm Bacher

Palestinian amora of the fourth century, who is known in Midrashic literature only as the author of haggadistic sentences. Two of these have been handed down by Berechiah, the well-known haggadist and transmitter of haggadistic traditions. In Pesiḳ. xxi. 145b (where the name is corrupted, but easily recognizable) Bezalel interprets the peculiar form "kehaḥallonot" () (Ezek. xl. 25) by saying, "The windows of the Temple were 'kehot' [dull] (); they were opaque, narrow within, and widening toward the exterior, in order to send light forth to the world." The second saying reported by Berechiah in the name of Bezalel is a simile referring to Ex. xxv. 40 (Cant. R. iii. 11; in Pesiḳ. i. 4b, and in other parallel passages the name is miswritten or has dropped out). A third sentence contains an allegoric explanation of Hosea ii. 7 [A. V. 5]. "Her 'mother' is the Torah, which, like a harlot, becomes an object of contempt among the ignorant, when those who are engaged in its study make the Law contemptible by their conduct." Bezalel gave this explanation in answer to a question which the above-mentioned Berechiah asked him (Ruth R. i. 1 [parashah 1], where the name of Berechiah has been omitted by mistake).

Bibliography:

Bacher, Ag. Pal. Amor. iii. 666.

BEZALEL.—1. The chief architect of the Tabernacle. The name occurs only in P [Note: Priestly Narrative.] and in the Bk. of Chron. (1Ch 2:20, 2Ch 1:5). It probably signifies ‘in the shadow (i.e. under the protection) of El.’ According to P [Note: Priestly Narrative.] ’s representation, Bezalel was expressly called by J″ [Note: Jahweh.] (Exo 31:2) to superintend the erection of the ‘tent of meeting,’ and endowed with the special gifts required for the proper execution of his task (vv. 3, 5). He was also charged with the construction of the furniture for court and Tabernacle, as well as with the preparation of the priestly garments, and of the necessary oil and incense. Among the gifts thus bestowed upon him, not the least was the gift of teaching the arts of which he was himself a master, to his subordinates (Exo 35:34), the chief of whom was Oholiab (Exo 31:6; Exo 35:34 etc.). 2. One of the sons of Pahath-moab who had married foreign wives (Ezr 10:30).

A. R. S. Kennedy.

bez´a-lel (בּצלאל, b^ecal’ēl, “in the shadow (protection) of ’El (God)”; Βεσελεήλ, Beseleḗl; the King James Version Bezaleel):

(1) A master workman under Moses; son of Uri, son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah. Yahweh gave him especial wisdom and skill for his task, which was, with the aid of Oholiab of the tribe of Dan, to superintend the making of the tabernacle and its furniture (Exo 31:2; Exo 35:30; Exo 36:1, Exo 36:2 (8); Exo 37:1; Exo 38:22; 1Ch 2:20; 2Ch 1:5).

(2) An Israelite of the time of Ezra who put away a foreign wife (Ezr 10:30).