Hanukkah: A Time of Dedication

John 10:22 And it was at Jerusalem the feast of the dedication, and it was winter. 23 And Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon’s porch..

The feast of dedication, or Hanukkah as it is more commonly known as, celebrates the rededication of the temple by the Maccabees after the Greeks had plundered it. There is a common misconception that Hanukkah is the Jewish Christmas. I can certainly see why it would be thought of in that way considering the traditions associated with the celebration, but that is not the historical context of the holiday. There is a much deeper message than one might think. While Hanukkah is not a God appointed festival in Scripture, it is a time to remember the mighty work that God did for His people and a good time to reflect what God has done for us.

First we have to understand the story of the Maccabees. The full account is found in 1 Maccabees 1-4. 

In Summary, the Greeks were led by Antiochus Epiphanes (a type of Antichrist). During his reign: 

In the days of Antiochus Epiphanes, there were rebellious men from Israel that misled many saying “Let us go and make a covenant with the nations around us”. Life was much harder for the people of Israel since they returned home from being exiled and went back into covenant with God. Some of the dissenters went to the king and he gave them permission to observe the ordinances of the nations. They took on the customs of the nations, removed the marks of circumcision and abandoned the Holy Covenant of God. They joined with the nations and sold themselves to do evil.

About 6 years later, Antiochus went up against Israel and came into Jerusalem with a strong force. He arrogantly entered into the sanctuary and took the golden altar, the menorah and all its utensils. He also took the table of Shewbread, the cups for the drink offerings, the bowls, the golden censers, the curtain, the crowns, and the gold decorations on the front of the temple. He took the silver, the gold and the costly vessels and also all of the hidden treasures that he found. He stripped it all out of the temple. Taking it all, he went into his own land. He shed much blood and spoke with great arrogance. Israel mourned deeply.

Two years later, the king sent to the cities of Judah a chief collector of tribute and he came into Jerusalem with a large force. He deceived the men of Judah and spoke words of peace to them. They believed him, but he suddenly fell on the city and destroyed many people. He plundered the city, burned it with fire, and tore down its houses and the surrounding walls. They took captive the women and children and seized the livestock.

Jerusalem and the people of Israel were dealt a severe blow. They fortified the city of David with a large strong wall and towers, and it became their fortress. They stationed there a sinful nation that stored up arms and food, and collected the spoils of Jerusalem. They were strengthened and became a great menace for the citadel became an ambush against the sanctuary, an evil adversary of Israel at all times. All over Jerusalem innocent blood was shed and they even defiled the sanctuary. Because of this, the residents of Jerusalem fled and she became a dwelling place of strangers.

The king wrote to his whole kingdom that all the people should become one and they should give up their own customs. All the nations accepted the command of the king including many from Israel. They gladly accepted his religion and they sacrificed to idols and profaned the Sabbath. The king sent letters to the towns of Judah in Jerusalem through messengers. 

1:44 And the king sent letters by messengers to Jerusalem and the towns of Judah; he directed them to follow customs strange to the land, 45 to forbid burnt offerings and sacrifices and drink offerings in the sanctuary, to profane Sabbaths and festivals, 46 to defile the sanctuary and the holy ones, 47 to build altars and sacred precincts and shrines for idols, to sacrifice pigs and other unclean animals, 48 and to leave their sons uncircumcised. They were to make themselves abominable by everything unclean and profane 49 so that they would forget the law and change all the ordinances. 50 He added, “And whoever does not obey the command of the king shall die.”

54 Now on the fifteenth day of Chislev (the 9th month), in the one hundred forty-fifth year, they erected a desolating sacrilege on the altar of burnt offering. They also built altars in the surrounding towns of Judah 55 and offered incense at the doors of the houses and in the streets. 56 The books of the law that they found they tore to pieces and burned with fire. 57 Anyone found possessing the book of the covenant or anyone who adhered to the law was condemned to death by decree of the king. 58 They kept using violence against Israel, against those who were found month after month in the towns.

59 On the twenty-fifth day of the month they offered sacrifice on the altar that was on top of the altar of burnt offering. 60 According to the decree, they put to death the women who had their children circumcised 61 and their families and those who circumcised them, and they hung the infants from their mothers’ necks. 62 But many in Israel stood firm and were resolved in their hearts not to eat unclean food. 63 They chose to die rather than to be defiled by food or to profane the holy covenant, and they did die. 64 Very great wrath came upon Israel.

2:1 In those days Mattathias son of John son of Simeon, a priest of the clan of Joarib, moved from Jerusalem and settled in Modein. 2 He had five sons: John surnamed Gaddi, 3 Simon called Thassi, 4 Judas called Maccabeus, 5 Eleazar called Avaran, and Jonathan called Apphus. 6 He saw the blasphemies being committed in Judah and Jerusalem 

Mattathias and his sons mourned greatly

15 The king’s officers who were enforcing the apostasy came to the town of Modein to make them offer sacrifice. 16 Many from Israel came to them, and Mattathias and his sons were assembled. 17 Then the king’s officers spoke to Mattathias as follows: “You are a leader, honored and great in this town, and supported by sons and brothers. 18 Now be the first to come and do what the king commands, as all the nations and the people of Judah and those who are left in Jerusalem have done. Then you and your sons will be numbered among the Friends of the king, and you and your sons will be honored with silver and gold and many gifts.”

19 But Mattathias answered and said in a loud voice: “Even if all the nations that live under the rule of the king obey him and have chosen to obey his commandments, every one of them abandoning the religion of their ancestors, 20 I and my sons and my brothers will continue to live by the covenant of our ancestors. 21 Far be it from us to desert the law and the ordinances. 22 We will not obey the king’s words by turning aside from our religion to the right hand or to the left.”

23 When he had finished speaking these words, a Jew came forward in the sight of all to offer sacrifice on the altar in Modein, according to the king’s command. 24 When Mattathias saw it, he burned with zeal, and his heart was stirred. He gave vent to righteous anger; he ran and slaughtered him on the altar. 25 At the same time he killed the king’s officer who was forcing them to sacrifice, and he tore down the altar. 26 Thus he burned with zeal for the law, just as Phinehas did against Zimri son of Salu.

27 Then Mattathias cried out in the town with a loud voice, saying: “Let every one who is zealous for the law and supports the covenant come out with me!” 28 Then he and his sons fled to the hills and left all that they had in the town.

29 At that time many who were seeking righteousness and justice went down to the wilderness to 

live there, 30 they, their sons, their wives, and their livestock, because troubles pressed heavily upon them.

42 Then there united with them a company of Hasideans, mighty warriors of Israel, all who offered themselves willingly for the law. 43 And all who became fugitives to escape their troubles joined them and reinforced them.

44 They organized an army and struck down sinners in their anger and renegades in their wrath; the survivors fled to the nations for safety. 45 And Mattathias and his friends went around and tore down the altars; 46 they forcibly circumcised all the uncircumcised boys whom they found within the borders of Israel. 47 They hunted down the arrogant, and the work prospered in their hands. 48 They rescued the law out of the hands of the nations and kings, and they never let the sinner gain the upper hand.

49 Now the days drew near for Mattathias to die, and he said to his sons: “Arrogance and scorn have now become strong; it is a time of ruin and furious anger. 50 Now, my children, show zeal for the law and give your lives for the covenant of our ancestors.

51 “Remember the deeds of the ancestors, which they did in their generations, and you will receive great honor and an everlasting name.

52 Was not Abraham found faithful when tested, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness? 53 Joseph in the time of his distress kept the commandment and became lord of Egypt. 54 Phinehas our ancestor, because he was deeply zealous, received the covenant of everlasting priesthood. 55 Joshua, because he fulfilled the command, became a judge in Israel.

56 Caleb, because he testified in the assembly, received an inheritance in the land. 57 David, because he was merciful, inherited the throne of the kingdom forever. 58 Elijah, because of great zeal for the law, was taken up into heaven. 59 Hananiah, Azariah, and Mishael believed and were saved from the flame. 60 Daniel, because of his innocence, was delivered from the mouth of the lions.

61 “And so observe, from generation to generation, that none of those who put their trust in him will lack strength. 62 Do not fear the words of sinners, for their splendor will turn into dung and worms. 63 Today they will be exalted, but tomorrow they will not be found, for they will have returned to the dust, and their plans will have perished. 64 My children, be courageous and grow strong in the law, for by it you will gain honor.

65 “Here is your brother Simeon, who I know is wise in counsel; always listen to him; he shall be your father. 66 Judas Maccabeus has been a mighty warrior from his youth; he shall command the army for you and fight the battle against the peoples. 67 You shall rally around you all who observe the law and avenge the wrong done to your people. 68 Pay back the nations in full, and obey the commands of the law.”

Through many battles, with less armament and many less men, God did the miraculous and preserved and prospered the people of Israel. 

3:36 Then Judas and his brothers said, “See, our enemies are crushed; let us go up to cleanse the sanctuary and dedicate it.” 37 So all the army assembled and went up to Mount Zion. 38 There they saw the sanctuary desolate, the altar profaned, and the gates burned. In the courts they saw bushes sprung up as in a thicket or as on one of the mountains. They saw also the chambers of the priests in ruins. 39 Then they tore their clothes and mourned with great lamentation; they sprinkled themselves with ashes 40 and fell face down on the ground. And they blew the signal trumpets, and they cried out to heaven.

41 Then Judas detailed men to fight against those in the citadel until he had cleansed the sanctuary. 42 He chose blameless priests devoted to the law, 43 and they cleansed the sanctuary and removed the defiled stones to an unclean place. 44 They deliberated what to do about the altar of burnt offering, which had been profaned. 45 And they thought it best to tear it down, so that it would not be a lasting shame to them that the nations had defiled it. So they tore down the altar 46 and stored the stones in a convenient place on the temple hill until a prophet should come to tell what to do with them.

47 Then they took unhewn stones, as the law directs, and built a new altar like the former one. 48 They also rebuilt the sanctuary and the interior of the temple and consecrated the courts. 49 They made new holy vessels and brought the lampstand, the altar of incense, and the table into the temple. 50 Then they offered incense on the altar and lit the lamps on the lampstand, and these gave light in the temple. 51 They placed the bread on the table and hung up the curtains. Thus they finished all the work they had undertaken.

52 Early in the morning on the twenty-fifth day of the ninth month, which is the month of Chislev, in the one hundred forty-eighth year, 53 they rose and offered sacrifice, as the law directs, on the new altar of burnt offering that they had built. 54 At the very season and on the very day that the nations had profaned it, it was dedicated with songs and harps and lutes and cymbals. 55 All the people fell on their faces and worshiped and blessed heaven, who had prospered them.

56 So they celebrated the dedication of the altar for eight days and joyfully offered burnt offerings; they offered a sacrifice of well-being and a thanksgiving offering. 57 They decorated the front of the temple with golden crowns and small shields; they restored the gates and the chambers for the priests and fitted them with doors. 58 There was very great joy among the people, and the disgrace brought by the nations was removed.

59 Then Judas and his brothers and all the assembly of Israel determined that every year at that season the days of dedication of the altar should be observed with joy and gladness for eight days, beginning with the twenty-fifth day of the month of Chislev.

Hanukkah is observed for eight nights and days, starting on the eve of the 25th day of the 9th month.

Hanukkah is the story of victory over the enemy (a type of antichrist) that came against God and His people, and of the temple of God being rededicated after it was desecrated by idolatry.

*Hanukkah is not about the oil of the menorah miraculously burning for 8 days when there was only enough oil for one day. This seems to be a Jewish fable as there is no record of this in the account of the Maccabees or even from the historian Josephus. 

There is a lot to be gleaned from the Maccabean revolt.

When a foreign ruler came in and demanded that they break the covenant of God by profaning His Sabbath and Feasts and sacrificing and eating unclean animals, they stood their ground and held to the covenant. God honored them and gave them victories in battles where they should have been decimated.

They rebuilt the sanctuary of God after it was profaned. They removed the foreign altar (the desolating sacrilege) that was erected on top of the altar of burnt offerings and they consecrated it again for the worship of the one true God.

They cleansed the temple and removed all traces of idolatry and furnished the sanctuary with the worship instruments that God requires. The altar and temple had to be cleansed of all foreign worship practices before they could resume worshiping God there. The temple had to be dedicated and set apart to worship the one true God.

1 Corinthians 3:16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? 17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.

The season of dedication is a great time to examine ourselves to make sure that our temple is Holy and set apart to God.