Bezalel's Wisdom from Judah and the Reward of the Midwives

And from where did all this glory come? From the tribe of Judah, [as it is said:] "of the tribe of Judah" (Exodus 35:30). This is what Scripture says: "Then He saw it and declared it; He established it and also searched it out. And He said to man, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom" (Job 28:27-28). Rabbi Acha and our Rabbis [differ]. Our Rabbis say: Two times He spoke the utterance between Himself and Himself, and afterward He said it to Israel, as it is said: "Then He saw it and declared it" - that is one; "He established it and also searched it out" - that is two; and afterward "And He said to man." But Rabbi Acha said: Four times, as it is said: "He saw it and declared it; He established it and also searched it out" - that is four times. From whom do you learn it? From Jochebed and Miriam. What is written? "[And] the king of Egypt said to the midwives" (Exodus 1:15). What did he say to them? "And you shall look upon the birthstool" (Exodus 1:16). Why did he do this? Rather, because the astrologers said to them: On this day the redeemer of Israel is born, and we do not know whether he is an Egyptian or not. At that hour he gathered all the Egyptians and said to them: Lend me your sons for one day, as it is said: "Every son that is born [you shall cast into the river]" (Exodus 1:22). "[Every son] of Israel" is not written here, but "every son" - whether of Israel or of Egypt. "And the midwives feared [God]" (Exodus 1:17). And how did the Holy One, blessed be He, reward them? "He made them houses" (Exodus 1:21) - houses of priesthood, houses of Levitical service, and kingship. Jochebed took priesthood and kingship as her reward - Moses and Aaron. And what did Miriam take as her reward? Wisdom, as it is said: "Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom" (Job 28:28). From her He raised up Bezalel, who was wise, "and I have filled him with the spirit of God" (Exodus 31:3).