Midrash Tanchuma, Vayakhel 4 | Jewish Mythology

See, the Lord hath called by name Bezalel (Exod. 35:30). Scripture says elsewhere: To whom then will ye liken Me, that I should be equal? saith the Lord. Lift up your eyes on high and see: Who hath created these? (Isa. 40:25–26).

The Holy One, blessed be He, asked: To whom will you liken Me? If a man walking in darkness encounters another who lights the way for him, should he not be grateful for his kindness? Even so, should not you, for whom I cause the light to shine as you sleep at night, be grateful to me for My kindness? Hence, to whom will ye liken Me, that I shall be equal? (ibid.). Lift up your eyes on high and see: Who hath created these? (ibid.). By whose merit did these generations of the heavens (Gen. 2:4) exist? Because of the merit of These are the names (Exod. 1:1)?7I. e., because of the merit of the children of Israel. For whose sake do they all exist? Because of the merit of These are the testimonies, and the statues and the ordinances (Deut. 4:45)? Who created these? He who bringeth out their hosts by number (Isa. 40:26).

One verse tells us; He gave them all their names (Ps. 14:7), while another says: He called them all by their names (Isa. 40:26). How can these verses by reconciled? If He gave them all their names, why does it say: He called them all by their names? If the Holy One, blessed be He, so desires, He calls all of them by one name and they stand before Him as one, but when he so desires, He calls each one by his own name: Gabriel, Michael, and Raphael. Hence, He gave them all their names.

Another comment on He gave them all their names. You might say that this verse alludes to the heavenly hosts, but how do we know that it refers as well to the inhabitants of the earthly sphere? We know it from the words See, the Lord hath called by name Bezalel.

Some are mentioned for praise, and others are referred to in scorn. One person mentioned in praise is found in the verse And with him was Oholiab the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan (Exod. 38:23). It praises him, his mother, his family, and the tribe of Dan, from which he descended. One referred to in scorn is found in the verse And his mother’s name was Shelomith the daughter of Dibri of the tribe of Dan (Lev. 24:11). He was a disgrace to himself and is a disgrace to his mother, his family, and the tribe from which he descended.8The grandson of Dibri, who had been raped by an Egyptian, he blasphemed and cursed God. See Lev. 24:11. An illustration of one who is mentioned for ridicule is in the verse Akhan the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah of the tribe of Judah (Josh. 7:1). This ridicules him,9Stoned to death at Jericho for his theft despite Joshua’s order to the Israelites not to take “devoted things.” He confessed his sin. his mother, his family, and the tribe from which he descended.

See, the Lord hath called by name Bezalel the son of Uri the son of Hur (Exod. 35:30). Why was it necessary to mention Hur? Because he (Hur) sacrificed his life for the sake of the Holy One, blessed be He. When the people were eager to make the golden calf, he confronted them and rebuked them. Whereupon they attacked him and killed him. The Holy One, blessed be He, said: Be assured, I will reward you. To what may this be compared? To a king whose legions had rebelled. When the commanding officer arose and fought against them, and said, “You have rebelled against the king,” they killed him. The king came to them and asked: “Where is my commander-in-chief?” They replied: “The legionaries killed him.” The king cried out: “You gave your life for my life. If you had given me money, I could have repaid you, but since you have sacrificed your life for me, I will appoint all your descendants commanders and lieutenants.” Similarly, since Hur sacrificed his life for the sake of the Holy One, blessed be He, at the episode of the calf, the Holy One, blessed be He, said: Because you did this, I will make you known, and those who descend from you shall be known throughout the world, as it is said: See, the Lord hath called by name Bezalel the son of Uri the son of Hur.

And He hath filled him with the spirit of God (Exod. 35:31). You must not believe that He did this only for Bezalel. The Holy One, blessed be He, instilled understanding and knowledge in all who were occupied in the construction of the Sanctuary, as it is said: And every wise-hearted man among them that wrought the work (ibid. 36:8). And you must not think He did so for men alone. The Holy One, blessed be He, instilled wisdom, as it is said: In whom (bahemah) the Lord hath put wisdom and understanding (ibid. 36:1). “In whom,” which may be understood as behemah (“animal”), indicates that the Holy One, blessed be He, gave wisdom to man and beasts but only Bezalel was designated by name.

See, the Lord hath called by name Bezalel. Why did he merit this distinction? Because he descended from the tribe of Judah. But why did he merit all this knowledge and wisdom? Because of the merit of his mother.10His mother was Miriam. Scripture says elsewhere: Then did he see it, and declare it; He established it, yea, and searched it out. And unto man He said (Job 28:27–28).

R. Aha and our sages discussed this verse. Our sages said: He repeated this twice to himself and then He told it to Israel, as it is said: Then did He see it and declare it. This refers to the first time, while He established it, yea, and searched it out alludes to the second time. And after that is written: and unto man He said, etc. R. Aha, however, contended that He considered the matter by Himself four times and then told it to Israel, as it is said: Then did he see it and declare it; He established it, yea, and searched it out, and after that is written: And unto man He said. From whom do you learn this? From Jochebed and Miriam, about whom it is written: And the king of Egypt called for the midwives, and said unto them … ye shall look upon the birthstool; if it be a son (Exod. 1:15–16). Why were they commanded to do that? Because the astrologers had told him: “The redeemer of Israel will be born on that day, but we do not know whether he will be born to an Egyptian woman or an Israelite.” At the time he assembled every Egyptian and said to them: “Loan me your sons for a day,” as is said: Every son that is born ye shall cast (ibid., v. 22). It does not say “every child of an Israelite” but rather: Every son that is born, whether Egyptian or Israelite, ye shall cast into the river.

Because the midwives feared God (ibid., v. 21).11See Sotah 11b. Tradition tells us that the two mid-wives, Shipra and Puah, were really Miriam and Jochebed. See Exodus Rabbah 1:13. How did the Holy One, blessed be He, reward them? He gave them houses. What houses did he give them? The house of priesthood and the house of kingship. Jochebed received priesthood and kingship, since Aaron became the high priest and Moses became a king: There was a king in Jerusalem (Deut. 33:5). What reward did Miriam receive for herself? Wisdom, as is said: The fear of the Lord is wisdom (Job 28:28), and it is written about Bezalel: And He hath filled him with the spirit of God, for he descended from her.

Original Sources