STONEMASON
A worker specialized in the art of cutting stones to size for buildings and fortifications (2 Sam. 5:11; 1 Kings 7:9; 1 Chr. 22:2; 2 Chr. 24:12).
The Egyptians were extremely skilled in this art. The pyramids of the IV dynasty and numerous temples are proof of this.
During their slavery in Egypt, the Hebrews made bricks and prepared clay (Ex. 1:11, 14), but they are not reported to have worked stone.
In the time of Solomon the Phoenicians were better stonemasons than the Israelites, who had not yet had the opportunity to build large stone buildings.
Solomon took Phoenicians to build the Temple and the royal palace. The blocks of stone they worked were 12 or 15 cubits on a side, or more, and the same height (1 Kings 7:10).
Later, the Hebrews themselves built fortifications, fortresses, aqueducts, reservoirs, viaducts, bridges, and carved columns (2 Chron. 33:14; Ezra 3:10; Song 5:15; Josephus, Ant. 15:11, 2 ).
They used the level and the plumb line (Am. 7:7; Zec. 4:10; Is. 28:17).