BESELEEL (Hebr. Bēṣal'ēl, “in the shadow of God”). — Son of Uri, of the tribe of Judah, he was the principal craftsman (Ex. 31:1–11; 35:30–35; 37:1–38) of the Tabernacle of the covenant and of all the sacred furnishings, together with everything intended for worship, from the chrism and incense to the Ark of the covenant. He was chosen for this work by God, who had “filled him with his spirit,” giving him intelligence and skill in every kind of artistic work in gold, silver, bronze, precious stones, and wood (Ex. 31:3–5). B. had learned the secrets of the art in Egypt. For the working of metals he found the necessary means in the Sinai Peninsula, where the mines of Sarābīl el-Hādim were then being exploited by the Egyptians. God associated Ooliab ('Ohōl'ābh) with him in directing the work.
Estd. 10:30–44 mentions another B. among the nine sons of Fahat, one of the eighty-three members of the Jewish community whom Esdra induced to send away the unfaithful wife he had taken during the exile.