<b>And Moses said unto the children of Israel: “See, the Lord hath called by name Bezalel” (Exod. 35:30).</b> Scripture states elsewhere: <i>So shalt thou find grace and favor in the sight of God and man</i> (Prov. 3:4). How is this so? At the time that the Holy One, blessed be He, spoke to Moses on the mountain about the construction of the Sanctuary, He revealed to him every vessel that was to be made for the Sanctuary and how to make it, as it is said: <i>And see that thou make them after their pattern</i> (Exod. 25:40). Moses believed that he was to build the Sanctuary, since He had said to him: Thou shalt make the staves, thou shalt make a table, thou shalt make an altar, thou shalt make an ark-cover, and thou shalt make a basin. He told him all about the implements that were to be in the Sanctuary. After He had mentioned every item, Moses said: Master of the Universe, who will do all this? He replied: <i>I have called by name, Bezalel</i>.
After Moses descended, he said to the Israelites: “The Holy One, blessed be He, told me how to build a Sanctuary, an altar, and a table for Him.” They asked: “Who will do all this?” “Bezalel,” he replied. The Israelites began to complain against Moses, crying out: “The Holy One, blessed be He, did not tell Moses that Bezalel would build the Sanctuary, Moses made that decision by himself because he is related to him; Moses is king, and his brother, Aaron, is the high priest; his sons are officials of the priesthood, Eleazar is chief of the Levites and the sons of Kohath are the bearers of the Tabernacle. Now this one is being given the authority to build the Sanctuary! Moses seeks to elevate him by giving him this great honor.” Moses attempted to explain. He said to them: “I have done nothing on my own; the Holy One, blessed be He, told me what to do.” And he showed them the words: <i>See, the Lord hath called by name Bezalel</i>. He did this to fulfill what is stated: <i>So shalt thou find grace and good favor in the sight of God and man</i> (Prov. 3:4). <i>In the sight of God</i> alludes to Bezalel, as the Holy One, blessed be He, said: <i>See, the Lord hath called by name Bezalel. And man</i> refers to Israel, as it is said: <i>And ye My sheep, the sheep of My pasture, are men</i> (Ezek. 34:31).
Why was he called Bezalel? Because he constructed a place of shade for God,<sup class="footnote-marker">6</sup><i class="footnote">See above, n. 3.</i> as it is said: <i>Thou shalt dwell in the covert of the Most High, and abidest in the shadow of the Almighty</i> (Ps. 91:1).