Who is…
Bezalel
also known as: Betzalel, Bezaleel
Hebrew: בְּצַלְאֵל —transliteration: Betsalel (BTZAL-EL) —meaning: in the shadow of God; i.e., under his protection
This is the name of 2 biblical men.
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Bezalel, a wise designer craftsman
This is the very skilled Israelite artificer (artisan, craftsman, architect) who was chosen by God to create works of art for The Holy Tabernacle in the wilderness (Exodus 31:2; 35:30).
And Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, “See, I have called by name Bezalel, the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah. And I have filled him with the Spirit of God in wisdom, in discernment, in knowledge, and in all kinds of craftsmanship, to devise artistic designs for work in gold, in silver, and in bronze, and in the cutting of stones for settings, and in the carving of wood, in order for him to work in all kinds of craftsmanship. —Exodus 31:1-5 LSB
He was engaged principally in the works of metal, wood, and stone; while Aholiab (aka Oholiab) (also appointed by God), worked subordinate to him in charge of the textile fabrics (Exo. 36:1-2; 38:22).
Bezalel was also in charge of the holy oils, incense, and priestly vestments. He also created the bronze altar (2 Chronicles 1:5).
Basically, Bezalel was the head of the entire team of craftsman who set to work in creating what God requested for His worship.
From the record of Bezalel, it is again clear that God appreciates and values beauty and skillful artistry.
Many years later, King Solomon went to the same bronze altar to worship Yahweh at the Tabernacle and offered 1,000 burnt offerings on it. “That night God appeared to Solomon and said to him, ‘Ask what I should give to you,’ and Solomon requested “wisdom and knowledge” (2 Chronicles 1:5-7), the same gifts that God had given Bezalel who created this altar.
Bezalel is of the tribe of Judah, the son of Uri, and grandson of Hur (31:2). His great-grandfather is Caleb.
His grandfather is Hur and his great-grandmother Miriam; thus he is a grandnephew of Moses (Exodus 48:3-4).
Today in modern Israel the Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design (in Jerusalem), and the Bezalel School art movement are both named after this man who was chosen and gifted by God.
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Bezalel, a man mentioned by Ezra
He is listed in the Book of Ezra as a man who had taken a forbidden foreign wife.
Relatives
- Father: Pahath-moab
- Brothers: Adna, Chelal, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattaniah, Binnui and Manasseh (Ezra 10:30)
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