Easton's Bible Dictionary

Maschil Instructing, occurs in the title of thirteen Psalms (Psa 32:1, Psa 42:1, 44, etc.). It denotes a song enforcing some lesson of wisdom or piety, a didactic song. In Psa 47:7 it is rendered, Authorized Version, "with understanding;" Revised Version, marg., "in a skillful psalm."

Mash =Meshech (Ch1 1:17), one of the four sons of Aram, and the name of a tribe descended from him (Gen 10:23) inhabiting some part probably of Mesopotamia. Some have supposed that they were the inhabitants of Mount Masius, the present Karja Baghlar, which forms part of the chain of Taurus.

Mashal Entreaty, a levitical town in the tribe of Asher (Ch1 6:74); called Mishal (Jos 21:30).

Mason An artificer in stone. The Tyrians seem to have been specially skilled in architecture (Kg1 5:17, Kg1 5:18; Sa2 5:11). This art the Hebrews no doubt learned in Egypt (Exo 1:11, Exo 1:14), where ruins of temples and palaces fill the traveler with wonder at the present day.

Masrekah Vineyard of noble vines, a place in Idumea, the native place of Samlah, one of the Edomitish kings (Gen 36:36; Ch1 1:47).

Massa A lifting up, gift, one of the sons of Ishmael, the founder of an Arabian tribe (Gen 25:14); a nomad tribe inhabiting the Arabian desert toward Babylonia.

Massah Trial, temptation, a name given to the place where the Israelites, by their murmuring for want of water, provoked Jehovah to anger against them. It is also called Meribah (Exo 17:7; Deu 6:16; Psa 95:8, Psa 95:9; Heb 3:8).

Mattan Gift. (1.) A priest of Baal, slain before his altar during the reformation under Jehoiada (Kg2 11:18). (2.) The son of Eleazar, and father of Jacob, who was the father of Joseph, the husband of the Virgin Mary (Mat 1:15). (3.) The father of Shephatiah (Jer 38:1).

Mattanah A gift, a station of the Israelites (Num 21:18, Num 21:19) between the desert and the borders of Moab, in the Wady Waleh.

Mattaniah Gift of Jehovah. (1.) A Levite, son of Heman, the chief of the ninth class of temple singers (Ch1 25:4, Ch1 25:16). (2.) A Levite who assisted in purifying the temple at the reformation under Hezekiah (Ch2 29:13). (3.) The original name of Zedekiah (q.v.), the last of the kings of Judah (Kg2 24:17). He was the third son of Josiah, who fell at Megiddo. He succeeded his nephew Jehoiakin.