Mason

An artificer in stone. The Tyrians seem to have been specially skilled in architecture (1 Kings 5:17, 18; 2 Sam. 5:11). This art the Hebrews no doubt learned in Egypt (Ex. 1:11, 14), where ruins of temples and palaces fill the traveller with wonder at the present day.

ma'-s'n: The translation of 4 Hebrew words:

(1) charash 'ebhen, "graver of stone" (2Sa 5:11);

(2) (3) gadhar (2Ki 12:12), charash qur (1Ch 14:1), "maker of a wall (or hedge)";

(4) chatsabh, "a hewer or digger (of stones)" (1Ch 22:2; Ezr 3:7).

Lebanon still supplies the greater number of skilled masons to Palestine and Syria (see 2Sa 5:11), those of Shweir being in special repute.

See CRAFTS, II, 8; also ARCHITECTURE; BUILDING; GEBAL; HOUSE.