Chemarim
An Unfamiliar Name for a Familiar Problem
The word "Chemarim" is an Aramaic-derived term that appears in the Hebrew Old Testament to designate idolatrous or illegitimate priests. While the word itself may be unfamiliar to most modern Bible readers, the reality it describes, the corruption of priestly office through pagan worship, was one of the central problems that plagued Israel and Judah throughout their history.
The plural form appears three times in the Hebrew text, though English translations handle it differently. In Zephaniah 1:4, some translations retain the word "Chemarim," while others render it as "idolatrous priests" or "pagan priests." In 2 Kings 23:5, most English versions translate it as "idolatrous priests," and in Hosea 10:5, it is rendered simply as "priests" with marginal notes indicating the original term.
Zephaniah's Condemnation
The most prominent appearance of the Chemarim is in Zephaniah's opening prophecy of judgment. God declares: "I will stretch out my hand against Judah and against all who live in Jerusalem. I will destroy every remnant of Baal worship in this place, the very names of the idolatrous priests, along with the regular priests" (Zephaniah 1:4). The prophecy is striking in its scope: God will cut off not only the Chemarim (the openly pagan priests) but also the unfaithful priests of Yahweh who have compromised with idolatry.
Zephaniah ministered during the reign of King Josiah (Zephaniah 1:1), whose religious reforms would soon attempt to purge exactly these kinds of abuses from Judah. The prophet's words suggest that the corruption had become so entrenched that even the names of these false priests needed to be eradicated from memory.
Josiah's Reforms
The account of King Josiah's religious reformation in 2 Kings 23 provides concrete historical context for the Chemarim. Among his sweeping reforms, Josiah "did away with the idolatrous priests appointed by the kings of Judah to burn incense on the high places of the towns of Judah and on those around Jerusalem, those who burned incense to Baal, to the sun and moon, to the constellations and to all the starry hosts" (2 Kings 23:5).
These Chemarim were not rogue individuals but had been officially appointed by previous kings of Judah. Their role was to maintain the pagan worship centers, the high places, that dotted the landscape of Judah and Israel. They burned incense to Baal and to the astral deities, practices directly forbidden by the Torah (Deuteronomy 4:19; 17:3). Josiah's removal of these priests was part of the most thorough religious reform in Judah's history, prompted by the discovery of the Book of the Law in the temple (2 Kings 22:8-13).
The Priests of the Golden Calves
In Hosea 10:5, the prophet applies the term Chemarim to the priests who served at the golden calf shrine at Beth-Aven (a derogatory name for Bethel, meaning "house of wickedness" instead of "house of God"). Hosea warns that "the people who live in Samaria fear for the calf-idol of Beth-Aven. Its people will mourn over it, and so will its idolatrous priests, those who had rejoiced over its splendor, because it is taken from them into exile" (Hosea 10:5).
These priests had presided over the calf worship that Jeroboam I had established as an alternative to worship in Jerusalem (1 Kings 12:28-30). For nearly two centuries, this rival priesthood had maintained a system of worship that the prophets consistently condemned as apostasy. Hosea's use of the term Chemarim for these priests carried a clear judgment: they were not legitimate servants of God but practitioners of false religion.
The Root Meaning
The etymology of the word remains debated among scholars. One traditional interpretation connects it to a root meaning "to be black," suggesting that these priests wore black garments. This would contrast them with the legitimate Levitical priests, who wore white vestments when performing their duties. According to the Mishnah, a Levitical priest who became disqualified for service put on black garments and departed, while the qualified priests wore white and continued serving.
Another proposed derivation connects the word to a root meaning "to be zealous" or "to be sad," suggesting ascetic practices. In Syriac, the cognate word simply means "priest" without any negative connotation and is used in the Syriac New Testament even for Jesus Christ as high priest (Hebrews 2:17; 4:14). This neutral Syriac usage suggests that the negative connotation of the Hebrew term was specific to its Old Testament context, where it designated priests of foreign or syncretistic worship.
The Larger Warning
The biblical references to the Chemarim carry a warning that extends beyond their specific historical context. They represent what happens when religious leadership becomes corrupted, when priests serve idols instead of the living God, and when worship becomes syncretistic, mixing true elements with false ones. The prophetic demand was uncompromising: these illegitimate priests must be removed, and worship must be purified.
The pattern of false religious leadership condemned through the Chemarim finds echoes throughout Scripture, from the corrupt sons of Eli (1 Samuel 2:12-17) to Jesus' confrontation with the religious leaders of His day (Matthew 23:1-36). The consistent biblical message is that God requires not merely the form of worship but its purity, not merely priests but faithful priests who serve Him alone.
Biblical Context
The Chemarim appear in Zephaniah 1:4 (condemned alongside compromised Yahwistic priests), 2 Kings 23:5 (removed during Josiah's reforms), and Hosea 10:5 (priests of the golden calf at Bethel/Beth-Aven). These references span the final century of both the northern and southern kingdoms, connecting the Chemarim to the pervasive idolatry that led to national judgment.
Theological Significance
The Chemarim represent the corruption of priestly office through syncretism and outright idolatry. Their condemnation in prophetic literature underscores God's demand for pure, undivided worship and faithful religious leadership. The fact that these false priests were officially appointed by kings demonstrates how deeply idolatry had penetrated Israel's institutions. Their removal during Josiah's reforms illustrates the kind of radical purification God requires when worship has been corrupted.
Historical Background
The Chemarim were priests who served at pagan worship sites (high places) throughout Judah and Israel. They were officially appointed by kings and burned incense to Baal and astral deities. The Aramaic origin of the word suggests connections to broader Near Eastern priestly traditions. In Syriac Christianity, the cognate term simply means 'priest' without negative connotations. Josiah's reforms (c. 621 BC) specifically targeted these priests as part of the most comprehensive religious reformation in Judah's history, prompted by the discovery of the Torah scroll in the temple.