an artificer in stone. The Tyrians seem to have been specially skilled in architecture (1Ki 5:17-18; 2Sa 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.
Therefore they did set over them taskmasters to afflict them with their burdens. And they built for Pharaoh treasure cities, Pithom and Raamses.
And they made their lives bitter with hard bondage, in mortar, and in brick, and in all manner of service in the field: all their service, in which they made them serve, was with rigor.
And the king commanded, and they brought great stones, costly stones, and hewn stones, to lay the foundation of the house. And Solomon's builders and Hiram's builders did hew them, and the men of Gebal: so they prepared timber and stones to build the house.