Difference between revisions of "Chemarim"

<p> In &nbsp;Zephaniah 1:4 distinct from "the priests," from '''''Chamar''''' "to burn" or "blacken," the black-attired ministers of the idol priests, who felled the victim at the altar. Or they were named from branding idol marks on their foreheads, idol fanatics. Others derive it from '''''Chmar''''' "to resound," namely, their howling during the rites. [[Josiah]] put them down (&nbsp;2 Kings 23:5 margin; &nbsp;Hosea 10:5). The root in [[Syriac]] is "to be sad": an ascetic priest. </p>

<p> [[Chemarim]] ( ''Kĕm'A-Rĭm'' ), ''Those Who Go About In Black.'' Occurs once only in the English version, &nbsp;Zephaniah 1:4, but frequently in the Hebrew, and is translated "idolatrous priests," as in &nbsp;2 Kings 23:5; &nbsp;Hosea 10:5 (priests). </p>

<p> ''''' kem´a ''''' - ''''' rim ''''' ( כּמרים , <i> ''''' kemārı̄m ''''' </i> , a plural whose singular <i> ''''' kōmer ''''' </i> is not found in the Old Testament): Occurs only once in the text of English [[Versions]] of the Bible (&nbsp;Zephaniah 1:4 , the King James Version Chemarims ), though the Hebrew word is found also in &nbsp;2 Kings 23:5 (English Versions "idolatrous priests") and &nbsp; Hosea 10:5 (English Versions "priests," English Versions margins, however, having "Chemarim" in both places). Some regard the word as an interpolation in &nbsp; Zephaniah 1:4 , since the [[Septuagint]] omits it and its presence disturbs the parallelism. The word, which is of [[Aramaic]] origin ( <i> ''''' kumra ''''' </i> , priest), is used in the Old [[Testament]] only in an unfavorable sense, its origin and associations naturally suggesting Syriac affinities. In the Syriac, however, no such connotation is involved. In the Peshitta version of the Old Testament it is used indifferently of idolatrous priests and of priests of Yahweh, while in the same version of the New Testament it is used of the [[Levitical]] priests and of our Lord (e.g. &nbsp;Hebrews 2:17; &nbsp;Hebrews 3:1; &nbsp;Hebrews 4:14 , &nbsp;Hebrews 4:15 , and often) and in &nbsp;Acts 19:35 it is the rendering of <i> ''''' neōkóros ''''' </i> (the Revised Version (British and American) "temple-keeper," the King James Version "worshipper"). The question of the root idea of the word remains unsettled. The traditional supposition, which finds some support even among modern scholars, is that the verbal form means "to be black," the priests being supposed to have been clad in black. But it is doubtful whether the root had this meaning. Another conjecture takes the root to mean "to be sad," the priest being a man of a sad countenance, an ascetic. Cheyne would relate the word to the [[Assyrian]] <i> ''''' kummaru ''''' </i> , having the sense of "a clean vesture." It is at all events probable that the priests, both in [[Israel]] and in the surrounding nations, employed white vestments, rather than black, when in the performance of their official functions. According to the Mishna, <i> ''''' Middōth ''''' </i> , verse 4, a Levitical priest who had become disqualified for service put on black garments and departed, while the others put on white garments and went in and ministered. The reference to the [[Baal]] worship in &nbsp;2 Kings 10:22 seems more congruous with this view; hence, probably blackrobed priests (Chemarim) of Baal and the unfaithful priests of [[Yahweh]] shall be cut off together. G. A. Smith [[(Btp, Ii]]  56) reads "the priestlings with the priests." </p>

<p> (Hebrews Kemarim '''''´''''' , '''''כְּמָרַיס''''' , ''Idol-Priests).'' This word occurs only once in our version of the Bible ("chemarims," &nbsp;Zephaniah 1:4; Sept. confounds with '''''Ἰερεῖς''''' following); but it is met with in the Hebrew in &nbsp;2 Kings 23:5 (Sept. '''''Χομαρίμ''''' ); &nbsp;Hosea 10:5 (Sept. omits), where it is rendered "idolatrous priests," and priests;" and in both of these passages the margin has ''"Chemarim."'' According to [[Gesenius]] ''(Thes'' Hebrews p. 693), the corresponding Syriac word signifies "a priest in general; but this, as well as other Syriac words relating to divine worship, is restricted by the Hebrews to idol-worship. As to the etymology, the singular form '''''כֹּמֶר''''' , ''Ko '''''´''''' Mer,'' is properly ''Blackness, Sadness,'' and concretely, ''One'' who ''Goes About In Black, In Mourning,'' hence an ''Ascetic, A Priest."'' First ''(Heb. Lex.'' s.v.) suggests a derivation from '''''כָּמִר''''' = '''''אָמִר''''' , in the sense of ''Worship,'' and remarks that the title ''Chemarim,'' although proper to the peculiar priests of Baal, was also applied to other idolatrous priests. &nbsp;Zephaniah 1:4, the [[Chemarim]] are coupled with the priests, and the passage may signify, "I will destroy the ''Chemarim,'' together with the priests of the tribe of [[Levi]] who have joined in the worship of idols." The priests who officiated in the service of the golden calves at Dan and [[Bethel]] were called chemarim (see the other passages referred to). Even to this day the [[Jews]] retain the word, and apply it in derision to [[Christian]] ministers, on account of their black robes. (See Baal). </p>