MASON

ma'-s'n: The translation of 4 Hebrew words: (1) charash 'ebhen, "graver of stone" (2 Samuel 5:11); (2) (3) gadhar (2 Kings 12:12), charash qur (1 Chronicles 14:1), "maker of a wall (or hedge)"; (4) chatsabh, "a hewer or digger (of stones)" (1 Chronicles 22:2; Ezra 3:7). Lebanon still supplies the greater number of skilled masons to Palestine and Syria (see 2 Samuel 5:11), those of Shweir being in special repute.

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

From the International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
Edited by James Orr, published in 1939 by Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.