Bible Dictionary
CHAMBERS OF IMAGERY
The chambers of imagery were rooms in the temple where Israel’s elders practiced idolatrous worship. They contained representations of animals, reptiles, and other detestable things.
Definition
The chambers of imagery were rooms in the temple where Israel’s elders assembled and practiced idolatrous rites. Their imagery included symbolic representations of beasts, reptiles, and other detestable things.
Biblical Usage
Ezekiel presents these chambers as evidence of the degenerate religious practices of Israel’s leaders. The imagery may have had a zodiacal character, and the worship of the planets was practiced among the people at that time.
Historical Background
The chambers belonged to the temple setting, but their rites were idolatrous rather than faithful worship. The representations described were connected by some interpretation with planetary or zodiacal symbolism.
Related Figures
Historical Bible Dictionaries
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>im'-aj-ri, im'-a-jer-i (maskith): The reference (Eze 8:12) is to chambers in the temple where the elders of Israel were wont to assemble and practice rites of an idolatrous character. What the imagery consisted of, we may gather from 8:10: symbolic representations of beasts and reptiles and "detestable things." It is thought that these symbols were of a zodiacal character. The worship of the planets was in vogue at the time of the prophet among the degenerate Israelites.</p>