Chemarim

Chemarim is a term applied to idolatrous priests — functionaries who served at the high places, at the Beth-aven calves, and at the altars of Baal and the host of heaven. The word surfaces in the prophetic and historical record at points where Israel's worship had been pulled into pagan-priest service, and the reform program of Josiah names them as a class to be removed.

Idolatrous priests under the kings of Judah

In Josiah's reform, this class of priests is identified by what they did and where: "And he put down the idolatrous priests, whom the kings of Judah had appointed to burn incense in the high places in the cities of Judah, and in the places round about Jerusalem; those also that burned incense to Baal, to the sun, and to the moon, and to the planets, and to all the host of heaven" (2Ki 23:5). They are royally appointed personnel of a forbidden-worship system — high places in the towns, incense to Baal and to the astral host.

Cut off with the remnant of Baal

Zephaniah names the same class alongside the cult of Baal as objects of judgment on Judah: "And I will stretch out my hand on Judah, and on all the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and I will cut off the remnant of Baal from this place, [and] the name of the Chemarim with the priests" (Zeph 1:4). The Chemarim are paired with "the priests" — distinguished from them, but standing under the same announced removal.

Mourning the calves of Beth-aven

In Hosea's picture of Samaria, the priests of the calf-cult of Jeroboam appear as mourners when the calf-image is taken away: "The neighbor of Samaria will be in terror for the calves of Beth-aven; for its people will mourn over it, and its priests who rejoiced over it, for its glory, because it has departed from it" (Hos 10:5). The same priestly class that "rejoiced" over the Beth-aven calves now mourns their loss — a snapshot of the calf-cult priesthood from inside.