The dates for Jewish holidays may seem confusing as they change year to year from the perspective of our Gregorian calendar. Hanukkah (or Chanukah) in 2022, for instance, started on December 18. This year it begins on December 8. It may be helpful to refer to an earlier post on the Jewish calendar as a reminder that Jewish holidays are based on the Hebrew lunar calendar rather than the Gregorian solar one. On the Hebrew calendar, Hanukkah occurs on the 25th of the month of Kislev, which is the November-December equivalent on our calendar.
Most everyone has heard of Hanukkah since its timing is very close to Christmas. Because of its proximity, it is easy to think that this holiday is the Jewish equivalent of Christmas. There are decorations, lights and the giving of gifts; however, Hanukkah is not about to the birth of our Savior. This is a savored holiday by the Jewish people, and as we will see, is filled with symbolism that does connect to Jesus.
In this post, we will explore the historical events that led to this festival. Part II will focus on the traditions of Hanukkah today and the applications of Hanukkah for followers of Yeshua. Interestingly, Hanukkah is not found in the Tanakh or Old Testament because it occurred during the intertestamental period (~400 year period between the Old Testament [Book of Malachi] and the New Testament [appearance of John the Baptizer]). Hanukkah is mentioned once in the New Testament. We will look at that in just a bit.
Also known as the Festival of Lights and the Feast of Dedication, Hanukkah lasts for 8 days. This holiday celebrates two important historic events. The first event was the victory of the Hasmonean Jews over the Syrian Greeks in the Maccabean revolt in 168 BC. The second event was the cleansing and rededication (Hanukkah means ‘dedication’) of the Temple after the Maccabees had reclaimed it.
In every period of history, someone has wanted to annihilate the Jewish people. The prophet Daniel (9:12, 11:21-35) prophesied that a leader would rise and cause persecutions to those living in Israel. History proved this to be Antiochus IV, a foreshadow of the future Antichrist.
Antiochus IV, a Syrian (Seluecid) general was a wretched man who did wretched things. The Seleucid Empire was a Greek power in West Asia during the Hellenistic period (312-63 BC). This tyrant demanded to be called Antiochus Epiphanes. “Ephiphanes” means “god manifest.” The Jewish people called him “Epimanes,” which means “mad man.” Antiochus forbade the Jewish people in Israel to follow their Hebrew Scriptures and laws, thereby inciting a battle that waged between spiritual compromise and godly character.
The Jewish people were cruelly and violently forced to take on Hellenistic (Greek) lifestyle of culture, thought, and religion. Antiochus had Torah scrolls burned, forbade Temple worship and sacrifices (other than to Greek gods), and prohibited Torah study, the Sabbath, and other observances. He also forced them to worship idols, such as Zeus, whose statue was erected on the Temple’s bronze altar. If this wasn’t bad enough, Antiochus desecrated the Temple by sacrificing pigs on the altar. Some resources report that Jewish people were killed for refusing to eat pork. Pigs were declared by God to be unclean (Leviticus 11:7-8) so what this ‘mad man’ did was considered to be an abomination by the Jews.
Many Jewish people; however, compromised to save their lives and assimilated into Greek way of life. A small group of people who lived in the hills around Modi’in near Jerusalem preferred to die rather than give in. The most famous was the family of Matityahu (Mattathias), the father of the Hasmonean line of priests that later ruled in the land. Mattathias and his 5 sons led the revolt against Antiochus. Despite overwhelming odds (which is where we often see God work), this small band of Jewish mavericks were victorious. The family became known as the Maccabees, from the Hebrew word for “hammer,” and the three-year conflict is referred to as the Maccabean revolt.
On the 25th day of Kislev, 165 BC, exactly three years to the day that Antiochus desecrated the Temple, one of the sons, Judah, led the defeat of Antiochus’ armies and liberated Jerusalem. When they entered the Temple they wept over its devastation as it was in ruins and overgrown, filled with remnants of sacrificed pigs. “Judah the Maccabee,” headed the initiative to cleanse and refurbish the Temple. Desecrated Temple articles were replaced with new ones (e.g., lampstand, table of showbread, altar of incense, altar of burnt offering, and doors). The Temple was rededicated to God and Jewish worship was reestablished.
Judah decreed that a festival should be observed every year for 8 days to commemorate the restoration of the Temple. Why 8 days? That’s a great question. Some say it comes from the Jewish rebels being unable to celebrate the 8-day Feast of Tabernacles while living in the hill caves around Jerusalem, fighting Antiochus. Other sources related that King Solomon took seven days to dedicate the Temple and had a special ceremony on the 8th day (1 Kings 8:65-68).
The traditional and most popular story comes from the Talmud. The Talmud, the central text of Rabbinic Judaism covering Jewish law and tradition, reports that during the cleansing of the Temple, only one container of oil was found for the lamps. That was enough oil to last for only one day, yet, it lasted for 8 days. This account is not recorded in the extrabiblical books of the Maccabees, nor is referred to in any of the traditional prayers for this celebration. Despite the miracle of the oil story likely being fictitious, it predominates today and is where the “Festival of Lights” name originated. To this day, Jewish people remember the miracle of the oil by the lighting of the menorah during Hanukkah. The true miracle of Hanukkah, it would seem, was Yahweh’s deliverance of His people against all odds…again!
The story of Hanukkah is one of many historical examples where God preserved a Jewish remnant of believers, and therefore the Messianic genealogy that led to the birth of Messiah Jesus. What if all Jewish people assimilated into Greek culture or were destroyed? Although Hanukkah is not directly related to Christmas, without the events that led to Hanukkah there may not have been a Jewish Messiah, therefore no Christmas. God’s blessed assurance was that there was indeed a manger, a cross, and an empty tomb!
As mentioned, the only Biblical reference to Hanukkah is found in the New Testament. The Gospels provide accounts of Yeshua’s pilgrimages to the Temple in Jerusalem during the nation’s festivals. Jesus attended Passover (Luke 2:41, John 2:13; Matthew 26:17-19), the Feast of Tabernacles (John 7), an unknown feast (John 5:1), and the Feast of Dedication (John 10:22-23). Jesus made some of the greatest declarations regarding His identity and mission during these times. When celebrating the Feast of Dedication (Hanukkah), Jesus was recorded as saying:
“27My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. 28And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. 29My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand.30 I and My Father are one.” (John 10:27-30).
For the Jewish people, these words should have been reassurance of the promise that the forces bent on the destruction of the God’s Chosen people will never succeed. Repeatedly, God has raised up deliverers and preserved the Jewish nation when all hope seemed lost. For the Hebrew nation, the lights of Hanukkah testify to the faithfulness of God.
Regarding lights, the menorah (from the Hebrew word for lamp) used during Hanukkah is different from the traditional 7-branched menorah, referred to as the Temple Menorah. The 7-candle menorah was used only for the Tabernacle, then later the Temple, and then in synagogues. The Talmud records that it is forbidden to light a seven-lamp menorah outside of the Temple. This candelabra is one of the most significant and the oldest symbols of Jewish faith. It represents light, divine revelation, holiness, Israel, continuity, and the eternal flame. The symbolism of the number seven has different interpretations, such as the days of creation, wholeness or completeness, and Torah and Israel’s mission. Israel’s mission was to be a “light unto the nations.” (Isaiah 42:6).
During their wilderness wanderings, the Israelites carried a seven-branch candelabra made by Bezalel Ben-Uri (Exodus 31:1-5). This menorah stood in the first and second Temples. In order not to copy this “holy menorah,” the Hasmoneans built the “hanukiyah” menorah. This menorah has nine arms; eight branches to hold the celebration candles, which are lit progressively each evening during the holiday by the center (9th) candle, called the “Shamash.” By the way, Shamash means “Servant.” How can you not smile at the goodness of our God, who long before the world-changing “Silent night, Holy night”, showed the second Godhead of the Trinity, Jesus, to the world in so many ways.
As followers of Yeshua, the light of the world (John 8:12), both Jewish and Gentile believers are forever secured in our Messiah’s hand. No force will ever be able to remove believers from Him; a beautiful reminder of why this blog was named Romans 838. This is a truth we can stand on, giving thanks to God Almighty that neither deception, false claims, or the assault on truth can ever destroy the promises and liberty He assures.
