The Shadow Knows - Parshat Vayakhel-Pekudei

(30) And Moses said to the Israelites: See, the Eternal has singled out by name Betzalel (in the shadow of God), son of Uri son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah. (31) And has endowed him with a divine spirit, with wisdom, understanding, and knowledge in every kind of craft (32) and given him a mind that can create designs in gold, silver, and copper, (33) to cut stones for setting and to carve wood—to work in every kind of designer’s craft— (34) and to give instructions. He and Oholiav son of Ahisamach of the tribe of Dan (35) have been endowed with the wisdom of the heart to do any work—of the carver, the designer, the embroiderer in blue, purple, crimson yarns, and in fine linen, and of the weaver—as workers in all crafts and as makers of designs.

(21) These are the records of the Mishkan, the Mishkan of the Pact, which were drawn up at Moses’ order — the work of the Levites under the direction of Itaamar son of Aaron the priest. (22) Now Betzalel, son of Uri son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, had made all that the Eternal had commanded Moses; (23) at his side was Oholiav son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, carver and designer, and embroiderer in blue, purple, and crimson yarns and in fine linen.

Now Betzalel, son of Uri son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, had made all that the Eternal had commanded Moses —

It does not just say “what the Eternal had commanded Moses,” but “all that the Eternal had commanded Moses,” — that is, even things that his master Moses did not tell him, Betzalel’s mind accorded with that which had been said to Moses on Sinai.

For Moses commanded Betzalel to make the vessels first, and afterwards the Mishkan itself. But Betzalel said to him, “The common practice of the world is to first make a house, and afterwards to put furnishings into it.”

Moses said to him, “That is exactly the way I heard it from the mouth of the Holy Blessed One. You were truly ‘in God’s Shadow,’ for indeed, that is what the Holy One commanded me to do - to make the Mishkan first, and afterwards to make all the things that go in it.”

(8) And let them make Me a sanctuary that I may dwell among them. (9) Exactly as I show you—the pattern of the Mishkan and the pattern of all its furnishings—so shall you make it.

(10) They shall make an ark of acacia wood, two and a half cubits long, a cubit and a half wide, and a cubit and a half high.

(2) Moses then called Betzalel and Oholiav, and every wise-hearted person whom the Eternal had endowed with wisdom, everyone who excelled in ability, to undertake the task and carry it out. (3) They took over from Moses all the gifts that the Israelites had brought, to carry out the tasks connected with the service of the sanctuary. But when these continued to bring freewill offerings to him morning after morning, (4) all the artisans who were engaged in the tasks of the sanctuary came, each from the task upon which he was engaged, (5) and said to Moses, “The people are bringing more than is needed for the tasks entailed in the work that the Eternal has commanded to be done.” (6) Moses then had this proclamation made throughout the camp: “Let no man or woman make further effort toward gifts for the sanctuary!” So the people stopped bringing: (7) their efforts had been more than enough for all the tasks to be done. (8) Then all the wise-hearted among those engaged in the work made the Mishkan...

Even things that his master Moses did not tell him... -

And if you ask: But why didn’t Moses command him to build the Mishkan first?

We might say: Moses mentioned the vessels first because, in truth, the vessels are more important than the Tabernacle itself… and one should start with the essential thing. However, when it comes to the actual construction, one should start with the Mishkan, because the Mishkan holds the vessels! So Betzalel, who was appointed to do the act of construction, understood that he had to make the Mishkan first.

But Moses, who was appointed to do the teaching, knew the whole scheme of the Tabernacle, and for the purpose of teaching, he began with the vessels first. But when it came to the notion of practical implementation, he forgot what it was that goes first in reality - until Betzalel came along and reminded him.

That is why Moses said, “You are in the Shadow of God.” For Moses was especially attuned to learning, but not to doing. Whereas Betzalel was a man of action. The general principle is that Moses’ knowledge came from study, because that was his special purpose. And in study, one begins with the essential things. But Betzalel’s special purpose was action, and so the knowledge that came to him was how to make things. And that is how Betzalel knew how to make the Mishkan.