Before the Mishkan was built, HaShem spoke to Moshe:
"Please count the Jews, Moshe. I want to know how many of My people there are. But don't count the people directly. Instead, have every single person, whether rich or poor, give you exactly one half-shekel. Then count the coins. The silver can then be melted down and used to create the 96 silver sockets that hold the wooden beams of the Mishkan together."
(The shekalim Moshe collected were the same ones we read about a few weeks ago, in Parshat Terumah.)
When all of the materials were ready for the Mishkan, Moshe looked around and wondered, "Now, where will I find people who have the skills to make everything we'll need to make? Let's see . . . we'll need someone who knows how to work with gold, silver, and copper . . . a jeweler who knows how to cut and set precious gems . . . an expert carpenter . . . an embroiderer . . . a weaver."
"Moshe," HaShem said. "I've already chosen someone to do all of those things. One person - Betzalel, from the tribe of Yehuda - has the knowledge and skills to do every kind of work for the Mishkan. Although he's only thirteen years old, he has abilities and understanding far beyond his years. He is an expert architect, woodworker, silversmith, stonecutter, and more . . . and I have given him Ruach HaKodesh (Divine Inspiration). He'll have a very capable assistant: Ahaliav, from the tribe of Dan. Anyone who wants to help can ask them, and they will supervise all of the work."
