Engraving

 Among the peoples with whom the Jews came in contact, stone-cutting had reached a high

degree of perfection. No stone proved too hard for their tools. In Egyptian and Phoenician tombs

the carving was often done on plastered surfaces (Patch 1913). Solomon had the interior walls of

the temple engraved with cherubim (1 Kings 6:8). This makes it evident that the skillful art of

engraving was in use during the building of the temple.

Glass-Making

 In Deuteronomy 33:19, "hidden treasures of the sand" is interpreted by some to mean the

making of glass objects from the sand (Patch 1913). There can be no question about the

Hebrews being acquainted with glass-making, as its history extends back to very early times (Job

37:18). Glass is mentioned a number of times in the Bible. The Biblical writer, Paul, indicates

that glass was used as a mirror and only reflected things dimly (1 Corinthians 13:12). Another

Biblical writer, John, says that glass was transparent (Revelation 21:21). Other references refer

to glass in the context of a mirror (2 Corinthians 3:18; James 1:23). There is no Biblical

reference to connect glass making with construction except a passage in the book of Revelation

which states, "and before the throne {there was something} like a sea of glass, like crystal

(Revelation 4:6 NASB). This "sea of glass" was a foundation or floor of some material like

glass, that will be created in the future but it was not glass. Although glass was in use in Biblical

times, there is no Biblical evidence of its use in construction.

Masons

 The word mason comes from the translation of four Hebrew words: charash 'ebhen,

"graver of stone" (2 Samuel 5:11); gadhar (2 Kings 12:12) and charash qur (1 Chronicles 14:1);

"maker of a wall (or hedge)" and chatsabh, "a hewer or digger (of stones)" (1 Chronicles 22:2;

Ezra 3:7; Patch 1913). Archaeology has revealed that random rubble masonry, unskillfully laid,