Mason

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.