Hanukkah
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Transcript of Hanukkah
The Feast of Dedication Hanukkah (hK'nUx])
The Feast of Dedication (Hanukkah [hK'nUx]] in Hebrew) commemorates a great military victory
and a miracle of dedication that occurred in the time between the prophets and the coming of Jesus. It
is a post‐biblical (or post‐Torah) festival, but it is one which Jesus himself celebrated. As a matter of fact,
the only place where the festival and its celebration is mentioned in Scripture is John 10:22, where it is
called “The Feast of the Dedication.” Hanukkah is also called “The Festival of Lights.”
In the era following the restoration of Jerusalem after Israel’s Babylonian captivity, the Jewish
people experienced a time of rapidly shifting political situations. Various kingdoms that surrounded the
tiny province of Judea vied for military or political control over this key area. During this time, Antiochus
IV set out to expand the Seleucid empire. Initially, the leaders of Israel considered this an auspicious
event, for Antiochus seemed to have come in peace and had freed them from Ptolemaic oppression.
After some three years of seeming benevolence in which he acted amicably toward Judea,
Antiochus adopted a policy of forcing Hellenic “civilization” on the various provinces under his power.
He demanded that all his subjects accept the philosophy and religion of the Greeks. Initially, he
promoted syncretism, a blending of the concepts of Hellenism with the religions and philosophies of the
many “uncivilized” peoples in his realm. When such efforts confronted Israel, they were welcomed by
much of the aristocracy of Jewish society which sought accommodation with the neighboring civil and
religious powers in order to improve their political and economic positions.
Finally, Antiochus brought into God’s temple a statue of Zeus, the king of the Greek gods, and
inaugurated worship to the idol image that involved sacrificing swine on the temple altar. He also
established houses of prostitution within the temple confines, and he engaged in ritual murder of those
who opposed his policy of forced Hellenization. The three commandments which Jews must not break
even at the expense of suffering martyrdom1 were regularly violated in the very temple itself.
Then, in disgust and anger, certain Judeans cried out, “Enough!” Led by Judas, the son of
Mattathias, they mounted a guerilla action against the Seleucid occupational force. Because of his
success, Judas was dubbed the Maccabee (hammer). This campaign continued until Antiochus and his
forces were expelled from Judea.
When the victorious Maccabess returned to the desecrated temple, they destroyed the idol images
and began to rededicate the temple to its former order. They immediately began construction of a
menorah of silver or other metal until a menorah of gold could be fabricated. When a search was made
to find consecrated olive oil for lighting the menorah, one flask alone was found that had not been
broken or polluted, representing only a single day’s supply. Finally, on Kislev 25 in 165 B.C.E., the lamps
were lit on the menorah with this one flask of oil. Tradition says that a miracle occurred when the
lampstand was rekindled. The consecrated oil should have burned in the menorah for only 24 hours. The
flames, however, continued to rise from the lamp of God for an additional seven days. This was a
witness to God’s acceptance of his people’s dedication and sacrifice both to achieve the victory over
pagan forces and to restore his sanctuary to a state of ritual purity. It was a graphic demonstration to
the Jewish people that God’s approval was instant and evident upon their dedication.
The victory over Antiochus and the miracle of the light were causes for celebration among the
Jewish people. The annual festival of Hanukkah was instituted immediately and became instantly
popular. Since that time, the Jewish people have celebrated the Festival of Dedication to remember
their victory over the syncretism with Hellenism that nearly eviscerated Judaism. They have also rejoiced
in the miracle of the light. Hanukkah joined the two seven‐day Torah festivals, Unleavened Bread (called
Passover) and Tabernacles, as the third week‐long festival in Judaism.
Today, Hanukkah is perhaps the second most popularly observed of the Jewish festivals (after
Passover). Each year, Jewish homes around the world are illuminated with the brightness of the
hanukkiah (nine‐branched menorah) as they celebrate victory over oppression and false religion, honor
the maintenance of purity in celebration of the Torah against syncretism and compromise, and enjoy the
blessing of light that is produced by dedication.
Christians can commemorate Hanukkah by constructing celebrating the victory of God’s light
over Satan’s might. Symbols that help to bring the celebration to life and serve as object lessons include
the hanukkiah, the menorah, the shofar, the prayer shawl, banners, and other biblical symbols.
For detailed information about Hanukkah, Sukkot, read Our Lost Legacy: Christianity’s Hebrew
Heritage and God’s Lamp, Man’s Light: Mysteries of the Menorah by Dr. John D. Garr or go to
www.HebraicCommunity.org to connect with the Stability series and other teaching materials about
virtually any subject relating to Christian celebrations of biblical festivals and Christian use of biblical and
Jewish symbols.
© 2009 Dr. John D. Garr, President, Hebraic Christian Global Community. This material may not be reproduced in any form
without the express written consent of the author.