Another matter: “See, the Lord has called by name Betzalel, son of Uri, son of Ḥur” – why did He see fit to mention Ḥur here? It is that when Israel sought to engage in idol worship, he gave his life for the sake of the Holy One blessed be He and did not allow them to do so. They arose and killed him.10When Ḥur sought to prevent the Israelites from committing the sin of the Golden Calf, they killed him.
See Shemot Rabba 41:7. The Holy One blessed be He said to him: ‘By your life, I will repay you.’ This is analogous to a king whose legions rebelled against him. His captain of the guard stood and battled against them.
He said to them: ‘Are you rebelling against the king?’ They arose and killed him. The king said: Had he given me money, would I not be required to repay him? It is true all the more so that he gave his life for my sake.
What will I do for him? I will appoint all the descendants who emerge from him as generals and officers. So too, when Israel crafted the calf, Ḥur stood and gave his life for the sake of the Holy One blessed be He. [God] said to him: ‘By your life, all the descendants who emerge from you, I will elevate them and grant them a good name in the world,’ as it is stated: “See, the Lord has called by name Betzalel, [son of Uri, son of Ḥur].… He filled him with the spirit of God.”
Not only this one alone, but everyone who engaged in the labor of the Tabernacle, the Holy One blessed be He infused him with wisdom, understanding, and knowledge, as it is stated: “All the wise hearted…crafted” (Exodus 36:8). And not [only] people but animals and beasts as well, as it is stated: “[That the Lord infused] them [bahema] with wisdom and understanding” (Exodus 36:1). Behema is written, as wisdom was infused in man and animal [behema]. But of them all, only Betzalel was publicized. That is, “See, the Lord has called by name Betzalel.”