collective body of forced labourers, task-workers, labour-band or gang, also (late) forced service, task-work, serfdom ( ᵑ7 מִסָּא, especially in phrase מַסְּקֵי מִיסִּין (implying late and [for Biblical Hebrew] false sense 'tribute,' so Late Hebrew מַעֲלֵי מָסִּים; √ unknown, probably loan-word; follows analogue of ע׳׳ע); — absolute ׳מ 1 Kings 5:27 +; לָמַ֑ס Joshua 17:13 +; הַמַּ֑ס 2 Samuel 20:24 +; plural מִסִּים Exodus 1:11; —

1 labour-band, labour-gang, body of task-workers for public service, formed by levy upon the people by Solomon וַיַּ֫עַל הַמֶּלֶךְ שׁלֹמֹה מַס מִכָּליִֿשְׂרָאֵל 1 Kings 5:27, amounting to 30,000 men v.1 Kings 5:27; אֲשֶׁר הֶעֱלָה ׳הַמּ 1 Kings 9:15; ׳וַיַּעֲלֵם שׁ לְמַס עֹבֵד 1 Kings 9:21 and Solomon levied them for a toiling labour-band (compare Genesis 49:15; Joshua 16:10) = ׳לְמַס וַיַּעֲלֵם שׁ2Chronicles 8:8; apparently instituted, earlier, by David, compare וַאֲדֹרָם עַלהַֿמַּ֑ס 2 Samuel 20:24, i.e. had charge of the body of labourers, so 1 Kings 4:6; 1 Kings 5:28; 1 Kings 12:18 2Chronicles 10:18.

2. a. of labour-bands, slave-gangs of Israel in Egypt, only שָׂרֵי מִסִּים Exodus 1:11 (J) gang-overseers.

b. of conquered populations, subject to forced labour: יִהְיוּ לְךָ לָמַס וַעֲבָדוּךָ Deuteronomy 20:11 compare Judges 1:30,33,35 (see GFM), Isaiah 31:8; Lamentations 1:1; so ויהי לְמַס עֹבֵד Joshua 16:10 (compare Genesis 49:15; 1 Kings 9:21); וַיִתְּנוּ אֶתהַֿכְּנַעֲנִי לָמַ֑ס Joshua 17:13, compare (׳וַיָּ֫שֶׂם וגו) Judges 1:28.

3 in General: וַיְהִי לְמַסעֹֿבֵד Genesis 49:15 and he (Issachar) became a slaving labour-band (poem in J; compare Joshua 16:10; 1 Kings 9:21); compare רְמִיָּה תִּהְיֶה לָמַ֑ס Proverbs 12:24 (here apparently of individual)

4 forced service, serfdom (or possibly (in late passage) tribute = enforced payment, compare Late Hebrew, ᵑ7, see above), only of Ahasuerus: ׳וַיָּשֶׂם הַמֶּלֶךְ מַס עַלהָֿאָרֶץ וגו Esther 10:1.

II. מַס see מסס. מֵסַב, מֵסֵב see סבב.

מַסְגֵּר, מִסְגֶּ֫רֶת see סגר.

מַסַּד see יסד. [מִסְדְּרוֺן] see סדר