Aggada -- Translations into English; Bible. Old Testament -- Legends; Jewish legends; Midrash -- Translations into English
Although God knew that Bezalel was the right man for the erection of
the Tabernacle, still He asked Moses, "Dost thou consider Bezalel
suited to this task?" Moses replied: "O Lord of the world! If Thou
considerest him suitable, then surely do I!" But God said: "Go,
nevertheless, and ask Israel if they approve My choice of Bezalel."
Moses did as he was bidden, and the people assented in these words: "If
Bezalel is judged good enough by God and by thee, assuredly he is
approved by us." [326] As the builder of the Tabernacle, God gave
Bezalel five other names to bear. He called him Reaiah, "to behold,"
for Bezalel was beheld by God, by Moses, and by Israel, as the one who
had been decreed for his activity since the beginning of the world. He
called him "the son of Shobal," because he had erected the Tabernacle
that towered high, like a dove-cote. He called him Jahath, "the
Trembler," because he made the sanctuary, the seat of the fear of God.
He called him Ahamai, because, through his work, the sanctuary, Israel,
and God were united; and finally Lahad, as the one who brought splendor
and loftiness it Israel, for the sanctuary is the pride and splendor of
Israel.
At the side of Bezalel, the noble Judean, worked Oholiab, of the
insignificant tribe of Dan, to show that "before God, the great and the
lowly are equal." And as the Tabernacle rose, thanks to the combined
efforts of a Judean and a Danite, so too did the Temple of Jerusalem,
which was built at the command of the Judean Solomon by the Danite
Hiram. [327] As the head-workers of the Tabernacle were filled with the
holy spirit of God in order to accomplish their task aright, so too
were all who aided in its construction, yes, even the beasts that were
employed on this occasion possessed wisdom, insight, and understanding.
[328]
THE ARK WITH THE CHERUBIM
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