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.