Another matter: “A good name is better than fragrant oil” – the name of Betzalel was better than fragrant oil. Why? Because the verse publicized him, as it is stated: “See, the Lord has called by name Betzalel.”5God Himself testified that Betzalel was worthy of his fine reputation. This is even better than the situation of the sons of Aaron, whose greatness was indicated by the fact that they were anointed with the anointing oil (Maharzu).
Another matter: “See, the Lord has called by name” – that is what is written: “To whom would you liken Me that I would be equal?” (Isaiah 40:25). Flesh and blood, if he walks in the dark and a person comes and kindles a lamp for him, need he not be grateful to him? But as [My] creations are sleeping I cause the light to rise for them, and they need not be grateful to Me. That is, “to whom would you liken Me that I would be equal”?
Another matter: “To whom would you liken Me that I would be equal” (Isaiah 40:25)? Consequently, “say holy [yomar kadosh]” (Isaiah 40:25).6The Hebrew, yomar kadosh, could also mean, “Says the Holy One.” In most cases, the verse would say “the utterance of the Lord” or “said the Lord.” Since here it says: “Says the Holy One,” this is expounded to mean: Since there is no one who is My equal, say holy in reference only to Me.
“Lift your eyes on High and see: who created these?” (Isaiah 40:26) – in whose merit were they created? “These are the generations of the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 2:4) – in whose merit do they endure? In the merit of: “These are the names of the children of Israel” (Exodus 1:1). And by what merit do those endure?
By the merit of: “These are the testimonies, the statutes, and the ordinances” (Deuteronomy 4:45). “He who brings out their host by number; He calls them all by name” (Isaiah 40:26), and another verse says: “He calls them all by names” (Psalms 147:4). How can these two verses coexist?7Do the angels all have one name, as implied by the singular term “name” in Isaiah 40:26, or distinct names as implied by the plural term “names” in Psalms 147:4?
It is, that when the Holy One blessed be He seeks to call them all at once, He calls them all one name. When He calls each one individually, He calls each by name, Mikhael, Gavriel. That is why it is stated: “He calls them all by names.” I have derived only regarding above, from where is it derived that the same is true below?
“See, the Lord has called by name Betzalel.” Another matter: “See, the Lord has called [by name Betzalel, son of Uri, son of Ḥur, of the tribe of Judah]” – it mentions and affirms;8The verse mentions Betzalel’s name and singles him out for an elevated purpose, thereby affirming his worthiness. “with him was Oholiav ben Aḥisamakh [of the tribe of Dan]” (Exodus 38:23) – praise for him, praise for his father, praise for his family, praise for the tribe from which he emerged.
And it mentions and demeans: “[The son of the Israelite woman blasphemed the Name and cursed…] and the name of his mother was Shelomit daughter of Divri, of the tribe of Dan” (Leviticus 24:11) – disgrace for her, for her father, for her family, and for the tribe from which she emerged. It mentions and affims: “Count the children of Levi [by their fathers’ houses, by their families]” (Numbers 3:15).9The Levites were being singled out for elevated status, and were to be counted by their fathers’ houses in order to honor their fathers, who were mentioned along with them.
It mentions and demeans: “Akhan, son of Carmi, son of Zavdi, son of Zeraḥ, of the tribe of Judah” (Joshua 7:18) – disgrace for him, disgrace for his father and for his family, and disgrace for the tribe from which he descended.