Cheshvan 5 – The LORD has Called by Name Betzalel…

Cheshvan 5, 5786; from sunset October 26, 2025, to sunset October 27, 2025

(The fifth day of the eighth month)

This is the name “Mosheh” (מֺשֶׁה – Moses) as seen in the Dead Sea Scrolls, written over two thousand years ago.

A few weeks ago, Moses came down from Sinai, on the Day of Atonement, having made atonement for the sin of the golden calf. On the Feast of Tabernacles, the children of Israel began bringing their free-will donations of things that were needed to build the Tabernacle. The Bible tells us that they began their work in the seventh month and everything was completed by the end of the twelfth month. We’ll check in with the Israelites over the next few months as they craft the furnishings of the Tabernacle.

Today in the Bible, we are introduced to Betzalel; the man to whom God gifted the artistic talents needed to beautify His dwelling place.

And Moses said to the children of Israel, “See, the LORD has called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah; and He has filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom and understanding, in knowledge and all manner of workmanship, to design artistic works, to work in gold and silver and bronze, in cutting jewels for setting, in carving wood, and to work in all manner of artistic workmanship.

“And He has put in his heart the ability to teach, in him and Aholiab the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan. He has filled them with skill to do all manner of work of the engraver and the designer and the tapestry maker, in blue, purple, and scarlet thread, and fine linen, and of the weaver– those who do every work and those who design artistic works.” – Exodus 35:30-35 (NKJ)

As we’ve become accustomed to doing, we’ll dig into the meaning of the name of Betzalel son of Uri.

Betzalel

The name Betzalel is often transliterated as Bezalel. His name consists of three parts.

• The first part consists of a single letter ב. Named “beit” it makes a “b” sound. When this letter is used as a preposition, it means “in.”

• The second part of our name comes from the verb-root “tzalal” which means “to be or become dark.” One of the nouns that come out of this root is “tzel” meaning “shadow.”

• The last part of Betzalel’s name is “El” meaning “God.”

Betzalel means “In the Shadow of God”

The text tells us that Betzalel was the son of אוּרִי (“Uri” – pronounced like “Oo-ree”). The name Uri comes from the verb-root אור which means “to be or become light.” The “i” ending of Uri’s name can either indicate a first person possessive form (“My Light”) or it can indicate a truncated form of God’s Holy Name (“Light of the LORD”).

We have a bit of word-play going on here between father and son. Light and shadow. In order to have a shadow, there must be a light! Can you imagine the story told anytime someone asked, “Hey Uri, how did you come up with the name ‘Betzalel’ for your son?”

To be in someone’s shadow often means to be under their guidance or protection. Betzalel certainly became the fulfillment of his name. He was indeed “In the Shadow of God!”

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