Wikipedia
In Exodus 31:1-6 and chapters 36 to 39, Bezalel (, also transcribed as Betzalel and most accurately as Bəṣalʼēl) , was the chief artisan of the Tabernacle and was in charge of building the Ark of the Covenant, assisted by Aholiab. The section in chapter 31 describes his selection as chief artisan, in the context of Moses' vision of how God wanted the tabernacle to be constructed, and chapters 36 to 39 recount the construction process undertaken by Bezalel, Aholiab and every gifted artisan and willing worker, in accordance with the vision.
Elsewhere in the Bible the name occurs only in the genealogical lists of the Book of Chronicles, but according to cuneiform inscriptions a variant form of the same, "Ẓil-Bêl," was borne by a king of Gaza who was a contemporary of Hezekiah and Manasseh.
The name "Bezalel" means "in the shadow [protection] of God." Bezalel is described in the genealogical lists as the son of Uri (Exodus 31:1), the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah (I Chronicles 2:18, 19, 20, 50). He was said to be highly gifted as a workman, showing great skill and originality in engraving precious metals and stones and in wood-carving. He was also a master-workman, having many apprentices under him whom he instructed in the arts (Exodus 35:30-35). According to the narrative in Exodus, he was called and endowed by God to direct the construction of the tent of meeting and its sacred furniture, and also to prepare the priests' garments and the oil and incense required for the service.
He was also in charge of the holy oils, incense and priestly vestments. Caleb was his great-grandfather.
Bezalel was the chief artisan of the Tabernacle, as described in the Book of Exodus in the Bible.
It may also refer to:
- Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design, the national school of art in Israel
- Bezalel school, an art movement in Palestine in the late Ottoman and British Mandate periods
It may also refer to one of the following people:
- Bezalel Ashkenazi (ca. 1520 – ca. 1592), a rabbi and talmudist in 16th century Ottoman Palestine
- Bezalel Narkiss (1926–2008), an Israeli art historian
- Bezalel Rakow (1927 – 2003), an Orthodox rabbi in Gateshead, England
- Bezalel ben Joel Ronsburg (1760 – 1820), a Bohemian Talmudist and rabbi, dayan and head of the yeshiva in Prague
- Hezi Bezalel (born 1951), Israeli businessman
- Judah Loew ben Bezalel (1520 – 1609), rabbi also known as the Maharal of Prague
- Bezalel Smotrich (b. 1980), israeli politician