Saturday, March 29, 2025

Mesorah:Questioning that of Moshe?

The Rashi (Bereishis 38:22) cites a Yerushalmi in which Betzalel directly questions what Moshe Rabbeinu said about making the Mishkan after the vessels based entirely on common sense. This is also stated in the Bavli and Medrash Rabbah. 

Rashi (Bereishis 38:22) AND BEZALEEL THE SON OF URI etc. MADE ALL THAT THE LORD COMMANDED MOSES — It is not stated here: Bezaleel made all that he had been commanded), but “Bezaleel made all that the Lord commanded Moses” — even regarding such things which his teacher Moses did not tell him, his own opinion was in agreement with what had been told to Moses on Sinai (Jerusalem Talmud Peah 1:1; Bereishis Rabbah 1:14). For Moses bade Bezaleel to make the vessels first and the Tabernacle afterwards but Bezaleel said to him: “Surely, it is the way of the world  first to build a house and then to place the household utensils in it!” Moses replied to him: “So, indeed, did I hear from the mouth of the Holy One, blessed be He”. Moses further said to him: Bezaleel, you must have been sitting in the shadow of God, for certainly did thus God command me!” And consequently Bezaleel made the Tabernacle first and afterwards he made the vessels ..

Berachos (55a) Rabbi Yitzḥak said: One may only appoint a leader over a community if he consults with the community and they agree to the appointment, as it is stated: “And Moses said unto the children of Israel: See, the Lord has called by name Bezalel, son of Uri, son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah” (Exodus 35:30). The Lord said to Moses: Moses, is Bezalel a suitable appointment in your eyes? Moses said to Him: Master of the universe, if he is a suitable appointment in Your eyes, then all the more so in my eyes. The Holy One, Blessed be He, said to him: Nevertheless, go and tell Israel and ask their opinion. Moses went and said to Israel: Is Bezalel suitable in your eyes? They said to him: If he is suitable in the eyes of the Holy One, Blessed be He, and in your eyes, all the more so he is suitable in our eyes. Rabbi Shmuel bar Naḥmani said that Rabbi Yonatan said: Bezalel was called by that name on account of his wisdom. When the Holy One, Blessed be He, said to Moses: Go say to Bezalel, “Make a tabernacle, an ark, and vessels”, Moses went and reversed the order and told Bezalel: “Make an ark, and vessels, and a tabernacle”. He said to Moses: Moses, our teacher, the standard practice throughout the world is that a person builds a house and only afterward places the vessels in the house, and you say to me: Make an ark, and vessels, and a tabernacle. If I do so in the order you have commanded, the vessels that I make, where shall I put them? Perhaps God told you the following: “Make a tabernacle, ark, and vessels”. Moses said to Bezalel: Perhaps you were in God’s shadow, and you knew precisely what He said. You intuited God’s commands just as He stated them, as if you were there.

Bereishis Rabbah (1:14) Rabbi Tanḥuma said in the name of Rav Huna: “Betzalel, son of Uri, son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, did everything that the Moses commanded him” is not stated, but rather, “everything that the Lord commanded Moses”. Even matters that Betzalel did not hear from his teacher, his perception corresponded to what was stated to Moses at Sinai. Rabbi Ḥonya said in the name of Rabbi: “The Torah of truth was in his mouth” – these are matters that he heard directly from his teacher. The Rabbis say: “For the Lord will be your hope  – even matters that you are a fool in their regard, “He will protect your foot from being ensnared”. Rabbi Dosai said: From promulgating mistaken teachings. Rabbi Abahu said: From transgressing. Rabbi Levi said: From malevolent spirits. Rabbi Avdimus said: If you gave charity from your purse, the Holy One blessed be He will protect you from being charged unjust security taxes, fines, head taxes, and property taxes.

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