Bezalel (son of Uri, grandson of Hur)

Master Craftsman of the Tabernacle

L’ExodeServantWise manc. 1500–1400 BC

Bezalel was a gifted craftsman from the tribe of Judah chosen by God to lead the construction of the tabernacle and its holy articles. He was filled with God's Spirit and given wisdom, understanding, and knowledge in all kinds of craftsmanship. Bezalel represents the first biblical example of someone specifically mentioned as being filled with God's Spirit for artistic work.

Famille

Événements clés

God's Choice of Bezalel

God called Bezalel by name and filled him with His Spirit, wisdom, understanding, and knowledge to carry out artistic work with gold, silver, bronze, precious stones, and wood.

1The LORD spoke to Moses and said:
וַיְדַבֵּ֥ר יְהוָ֖ה אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֥ה לֵּאמֹֽר׃ ‬
2"See, I have called by name Bezalel son of Uri, son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah,
רְאֵ֖ה קָרָ֣אתִֽי בְשֵׁ֑ם בְּצַלְאֵ֛ל בֶּן־אוּרִ֥י בֶן־ח֖וּר לְמַטֵּ֥ה יְהוּדָֽה׃ ‬
3and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, understanding, and knowledge in every kind of craft,
וָאֲמַלֵּ֥א אֹת֖וֹ ר֣וּחַ אֱלֹהִ֑ים בְּחָכְמָ֛ה וּבִתְבוּנָ֥ה וּבְדַ֖עַת וּבְכָל־מְלָאכָֽה׃ ‬
4to design works of art in gold, silver, and bronze,
לַחְשֹׁ֖ב מַחֲשָׁבֹ֑ת לַעֲשׂ֛וֹת בַּזָּהָ֥ב וּבַכֶּ֖סֶף וּבַנְּחֹֽשֶׁת׃ ‬
5to cut and set stones, to carve wood, and to work in every craft.
וּבַחֲרֹ֥שֶׁת אֶ֛בֶן לְמַלֹּ֖את וּבַחֲרֹ֣שֶׁת עֵ֑ץ לַעֲשׂ֖וֹת בְּכָל־מְלָאכָֽה׃ ‬

Collaboration with Oholiab

God gave Bezalel the assistant Oholiab from the tribe of Dan, and together they led the artistic work on the tabernacle.

6And see, I have appointed Oholiab son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, to work with him. I have also given skill to every craftsman, so they can make everything I have commanded you:
וַאֲנִ֞י הִנֵּ֧ה נָתַ֣תִּי אִתּ֗וֹ אֵ֣ת אָהֳלִיאָ֞ב בֶּן־אֲחִֽיסָמָךְ֙ לְמַטֵּה־דָ֔ן וּבְלֵ֥ב כָּל־חֲכַם־לֵ֖ב נָתַ֣תִּי חָכְמָ֑ה וְעָשׂ֕וּ אֵ֖ת כָּל־אֲשֶׁ֥ר צִוִּיתִֽךָ׃ ‬

Tasks Involving the Tabernacle's Articles

Bezalel was entrusted with making the tent of meeting, the ark of the covenant, the mercy seat, the altar, the priestly garments, and all the holy articles.

7the tent of meeting, the ark of the testimony and the atonement cover that goes on it, and all the furnishings of the tent;
אֵ֣ת ׀ אֹ֣הֶל מוֹעֵ֗ד וְאֶת־הָֽאָרֹן֙ לָֽעֵדֻ֔ת וְאֶת־הַכַּפֹּ֖רֶת אֲשֶׁ֣ר עָלָ֑יו וְאֵ֖ת כָּל־כְּלֵ֥י הָאֹֽהֶל׃ ‬
8the table with its utensils, the pure lampstand with all its utensils, the altar of incense,
וְאֶת־הַשֻּׁלְחָן֙ וְאֶת־כֵּלָ֔יו וְאֶת־הַמְּנֹרָ֥ה הַטְּהֹרָ֖ה וְאֶת־כָּל־כֵּלֶ֑יהָ וְאֵ֖ת מִזְבַּ֥ח הַקְּטֹֽרֶת׃ ‬
9the altar of burnt offering with all its utensils, and the basin with its stand;
וְאֶת־מִזְבַּ֥ח הָעֹלָ֖ה וְאֶת־כָּל־כֵּלָ֑יו וְאֶת־הַכִּיּ֖וֹר וְאֶת־כַּנּֽוֹ׃ ‬
10the woven garments, the holy garments for Aaron the priest and the garments for his sons to serve as priests,
וְאֵ֖ת בִּגְדֵ֣י הַשְּׂרָ֑ד וְאֶת־בִּגְדֵ֤י הַקֹּ֙דֶשׁ֙ לְאַהֲרֹ֣ן הַכֹּהֵ֔ן וְאֶת־בִּגְדֵ֥י בָנָ֖יו לְכַהֵֽן׃ ‬
11and the anointing oil and the fragrant incense for the sanctuary. They are to make them just as I have commanded you."
וְאֵ֨ת שֶׁ֧מֶן הַמִּשְׁחָ֛ה וְאֶת־קְטֹ֥רֶת הַסַּמִּ֖ים לַקֹּ֑דֶשׁ כְּכֹ֥ל אֲשֶׁר־צִוִּיתִ֖ךָ יַעֲשֽׂוּ׃ פ ‬

Moses Presents Bezalel to the People

Moses told the Israelites that the Lord had called Bezalel and equipped him with all the necessary skills for the sacred work.

30Then Moses said to the Israelites, "See, the LORD has called by name Bezalel son of Uri, son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah,
וַיֹּ֤אמֶר מֹשֶׁה֙ אֶל־בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל רְא֛וּ קָרָ֥א יְהוָ֖ה בְּשֵׁ֑ם בְּצַלְאֵ֛ל בֶּן־אוּרִ֥י בֶן־ח֖וּר לְמַטֵּ֥ה יְהוּדָֽה׃ ‬
31and has filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, understanding, and knowledge in every kind of craft,
וַיְמַלֵּ֥א אֹת֖וֹ ר֣וּחַ אֱלֹהִ֑ים בְּחָכְמָ֛ה בִּתְבוּנָ֥ה וּבְדַ֖עַת וּבְכָל־מְלָאכָֽה׃ ‬
32to design artistic works in gold, silver, and bronze,
וְלַחְשֹׁ֖ב מַֽחַשָׁבֹ֑ת לַעֲשֹׂ֛ת בַּזָּהָ֥ב וּבַכֶּ֖סֶף וּבַנְּחֹֽשֶׁת׃ ‬
33to cut and set stones and to carve wood—to work in every kind of artistic craft.
וּבַחֲרֹ֥שֶׁת אֶ֛בֶן לְמַלֹּ֖את וּבַחֲרֹ֣שֶׁת עֵ֑ץ לַעֲשׂ֖וֹת בְּכָל־מְלֶ֥אכֶת מַחֲשָֽׁבֶת׃ ‬
34And he has given both him and Oholiab son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, the ability to teach others.
וּלְהוֹרֹ֖ת נָתַ֣ן בְּלִבּ֑וֹ ה֕וּא וְאָֽהֳלִיאָ֥ב בֶּן־אֲחִיסָמָ֖ךְ לְמַטֵּה־דָֽן׃ ‬
35He has filled them with skill to do all kinds of work as engravers, designers, embroiderers in blue, purple, and scarlet yarn and fine linen, and as weavers—masters of every craft and designers of artistic works.
מִלֵּ֨א אֹתָ֜ם חָכְמַת־לֵ֗ב לַעֲשׂוֹת֮ כָּל־מְלֶ֣אכֶת חָרָ֣שׁ ׀ וְחֹשֵׁב֒ וְרֹקֵ֞ם בַּתְּכֵ֣לֶת וּבָֽאַרְגָּמָ֗ן בְּתוֹלַ֧עַת הַשָּׁנִ֛י וּבַשֵּׁ֖שׁ וְאֹרֵ֑ג עֹשֵׂי֙ כָּל־מְלָאכָ֔ה וְחֹשְׁבֵ֖י מַחֲשָׁבֹֽת׃ ‬

The Execution of the Work

Bezalel and Oholiab, together with all the skilled craftsmen, carried out the work on the tabernacle exactly as the Lord had commanded Moses.

1So Bezalel and Oholiab went to work, along with every skilled craftsman to whom the LORD had given wisdom and understanding to know how to carry out all the work of building the sanctuary, doing everything just as the LORD had commanded.
וְעָשָׂה֩ בְצַלְאֵ֨ל וְאָהֳלִיאָ֜ב וְכֹ֣ל ׀ אִ֣ישׁ חֲכַם־לֵ֗ב אֲשֶׁר֩ נָתַ֨ן יְהוָ֜ה חָכְמָ֤ה וּתְבוּנָה֙ בָּהֵ֔מָּה לָדַ֣עַת לַעֲשֹׂ֔ת אֶֽת־כָּל־מְלֶ֖אכֶת עֲבֹדַ֣ת הַקֹּ֑דֶשׁ לְכֹ֥ל אֲשֶׁר־צִוָּ֖ה יְהוָֽה׃ ‬
2Then Moses called Bezalel and Oholiab and every skilled craftsman in whose heart the LORD had put wisdom—everyone whose heart moved him to come forward and take up the work.
וַיִּקְרָ֣א מֹשֶׁ֗ה אֶל־בְּצַלְאֵל֘ וְאֶל־אָֽהֳלִיאָב֒ וְאֶל֙ כָּל־אִ֣ישׁ חֲכַם־לֵ֔ב אֲשֶׁ֨ר נָתַ֧ן יְהוָ֛ה חָכְמָ֖ה בְּלִבּ֑וֹ כֹּ֚ל אֲשֶׁ֣ר נְשָׂא֣וֹ לִבּ֔וֹ לְקָרְבָ֥ה אֶל־הַמְּלָאכָ֖ה לַעֲשֹׂ֥ת אֹתָֽהּ׃ ‬

Bezalel Makes the Ark of the Covenant

Bezalel made the ark of the covenant from acacia wood and overlaid it with pure gold, and he crafted the mercy seat with cherubim from hammered gold.

1Bezalel made the ark of acacia wood, two and a half cubits long, a cubit and a half wide, and a cubit and a half high.
וַיַּ֧עַשׂ בְּצַלְאֵ֛ל אֶת־הָאָרֹ֖ן עֲצֵ֣י שִׁטִּ֑ים אַמָּתַ֨יִם וָחֵ֜צִי אָרְכּ֗וֹ וְאַמָּ֤ה וָחֵ֙צִי֙ רָחְבּ֔וֹ וְאַמָּ֥ה וָחֵ֖צִי קֹמָתֽוֹ׃ ‬
2He overlaid it with pure gold, inside and out, and made a gold molding around it.
וַיְצַפֵּ֛הוּ זָהָ֥ב טָה֖וֹר מִבַּ֣יִת וּמִח֑וּץ וַיַּ֥עַשׂ ל֛וֹ זֵ֥ר זָהָ֖ב סָבִֽיב׃ ‬
6He made the mercy seat of pure gold, two and a half cubits long and a cubit and a half wide.
וַיַּ֥עַשׂ כַּפֹּ֖רֶת זָהָ֣ב טָה֑וֹר אַמָּתַ֤יִם וָחֵ֙צִי֙ אָרְכָּ֔הּ וְאַמָּ֥ה וָחֵ֖צִי רָחְבָּֽהּ׃ ‬
7He made two cherubim of gold, hammered out of one piece, at the two ends of the mercy seat:
וַיַּ֛עַשׂ שְׁנֵ֥י כְרֻבִ֖ים זָהָ֑ב מִקְשָׁה֙ עָשָׂ֣ה אֹתָ֔ם מִשְּׁנֵ֖י קְצ֥וֹת הַכַּפֹּֽרֶת׃ ‬
8one cherub at one end and one cherub at the other. He made the cherubim of one piece with the mercy seat at its two ends.
כְּרוּב־אֶחָ֤ד מִקָּצָה֙ מִזֶּ֔ה וּכְרוּב־אֶחָ֥ד מִקָּצָ֖ה מִזֶּ֑ה מִן־הַכַּפֹּ֛רֶת עָשָׂ֥ה אֶת־הַכְּרֻבִ֖ים מִשְּׁנֵ֥י *קצוותו **קְצוֹתָֽיו׃ ‬
9The cherubim spread their wings upward, overshadowing the mercy seat with their wings, facing each other; the faces of the cherubim were turned toward the mercy seat.
וַיִּהְי֣וּ הַכְּרֻבִים֩ פֹּרְשֵׂ֨י כְנָפַ֜יִם לְמַ֗עְלָה סֹֽכְכִ֤ים בְּכַנְפֵיהֶם֙ עַל־הַכַּפֹּ֔רֶת וּפְנֵיהֶ֖ם אִ֣ישׁ אֶל־אָחִ֑יו אֶל־הַכַּפֹּ֔רֶת הָי֖וּ פְּנֵ֥י הַכְּרֻבִֽים׃ פ ‬

Mentionné dans la Bible (9)