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Chemarim

Boyd’s Bible Dictionary:

(black ones). Sun-worshippers (Zeph. 1:4⁴I will also stretch out mine hand upon Judah, and upon all the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and I will cut off the remnant of Baal from this place, and the name of the Chemarims with the priests; (Zephaniah 1:4)).

Concise Bible Dictionary:

A Hebrew word signifying some class of “priests” (Zeph. 1:4⁴I will also stretch out mine hand upon Judah, and upon all the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and I will cut off the remnant of Baal from this place, and the name of the Chemarims with the priests; (Zephaniah 1:4) margin; Hos. 10:5⁵The inhabitants of Samaria shall fear because of the calves of Beth-aven: for the people thereof shall mourn over it, and the priests thereof that rejoiced on it, for the glory thereof, because it is departed from it. (Hosea 10:5)). It is translated “idolatrous priest” in 2 Kings 23:5⁵And he put down the idolatrous priests, whom the kings of Judah had ordained to burn incense in the high places in the cities of Judah, and in the places round about Jerusalem; them also that burned incense unto Baal, to the sun, and to the moon, and to the planets, and to all the host of heaven. (2 Kings 23:5). The derivation of the word is much disputed.

Jackson’s Dictionary of Scripture Proper Names:

as changed ones

From Manners and Customs of the Bible:

Zephaniah 1:4⁴I will also stretch out mine hand upon Judah, and upon all the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and I will cut off the remnant of Baal from this place, and the name of the Chemarims with the priests; (Zephaniah 1:4). I will cut off the remnant of Baal from this place, and the name of the Chemarims with the priests.

The word chemarim, here untranslated, occurs also in 2 Kings 23:5⁵And he put down the idolatrous priests, whom the kings of Judah had ordained to burn incense in the high places in the cities of Judah, and in the places round about Jerusalem; them also that burned incense unto Baal, to the sun, and to the moon, and to the planets, and to all the host of heaven. (2 Kings 23:5), where it is rendered “idolatrous priests” “and in Hosea 10:5⁵The inhabitants of Samaria shall fear because of the calves of Beth-aven: for the people thereof shall mourn over it, and the priests thereof that rejoiced on it, for the glory thereof, because it is departed from it. (Hosea 10:5), where it is rendered “priests.” It signifies the priests of idolatrous worship. Keil does not include in the term the priests of Baal, but limits its application to “the priests appointed by the Kings of Judah for the worship of the high places and the idolatrous worship of Jehovah” (Commentary in loco). Gesenius thinks it is derived from kamar, to be burned, to be sad, and that it refers to the black garments worn by priests. Some, however, think this idea too modern for adoption. Keil says that this derivation “is decidedly opposed by the fact, that neither the priests of the idols nor of the high places were ascetics or monks, and in ancient times the priests from India to Gaul wore robes of a white, and if possible of a brilliant white, color. (Compare Bahr's Symbol., 2, p. 87, f, and the works there quoted (Commentary on 2 Kings 23:5⁵And he put down the idolatrous priests, whom the kings of Judah had ordained to burn incense in the high places in the cities of Judah, and in the places round about Jerusalem; them also that burned incense unto Baal, to the sun, and to the moon, and to the planets, and to all the host of heaven. (2 Kings 23:5)).

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