Another matter, “see, I have called by name Betzalel,” that is what is written: “What was, its name has already been called” (Ecclesiastes 6:10). The Holy One blessed be He said: ‘The one whom I appointed at the outset so that he would craft the Tabernacle, I have already called him by name.’ What is, “it is known that he is a man”? (Ecclesiastes 6:10). While Adam the first man was still a shapeless mass, the Holy One blessed be He showed him each and every righteous person that was destined to emerge from him.
Some were suspended on Adam’s head, some were suspended on his hair, some were suspended on his forehead, some on his eyes, some on his nose, some on his mouth, some on his ear, and some on his earlobes.5The correlation between a particular person and the location on Adam from which he was suspended depends upon the person’s character and tendencies (see Yefei To’ar). Know that when Job sought to argue with the Holy One blessed be He, and said: “If only I could know and find Him…I would organize my case before Him” (Job 23:3–4), the Holy One blessed be He responded to him: ‘Do You seek to argue with Me?
“Where [eifo] were you when I founded the earth?”’ (Job 38:4). What is eifo? Rabbi Shimon ben Lakish said: The Holy One blessed be He said to him: ‘Job, tell me the origins of your soul [haeifa]. From which place was [your soul] suspended, from [Adam’s] head, from his forehead, or from which of his [other] limbs?
If you know at what place were the origins of your soul, you may argue with Me.’ That is, “where [eifo] were you…?” The Holy One blessed be He showed [Adam] Abraham. Because he said one matter,6Abraham said: “My Lord God, how shall I know that I shall inherit it” (Genesis 15:8), questioning whether God would fulfill His promise to give him the land. his descendants descended to Egypt and were enslaved in Egypt.
He showed him Moses arising and redeeming them. He showed him Joseph supporting the tribes. He showed him Moses anointing prophets. He showed him Samuel anointing kings; Joshua taking Israel into the Land; David laying the foundation for the Temple; Solomon building it; Atalya mother of Ahaziah and her sons detaching the golden nails from the Temple; Yehoyada repairing it; Amon engaging in idol worship; Yoshiya eliminating it; Nebuchadnezzar destroying the Temple; Darius building it; and He showed him Betzalel building the Tabernacle. That is, “see, I have called by name Betzalel.”