Chanukah (Part Two)

Chanukah is the Festival of Light. Jesus told His disciples, "I am the light of the world." On another occasion, He instructed His disciples, "You are the light of the world...Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works (mitzvot), and glorify your Father who is in heaven" (Matthew 5:16). In the same way it is tradition to place the Chaunkah candelabrum (chanukiah) in a window so that its light radiates outward and illuminates the darkness of the outside world.

Most Christians do not know that chanukah was prophesied to happen, and it was prophesied to happen by the prophet Daniel. In Daniel chapter 7, we are told about four world powers which will arise--first the Babylonians, second the Medes-Persians, third the Greeks and fourth the Romans. In Daniel chapter 8, we read about just two of the world powers, the Medes-Persians followed by the Greeks.

Daniel 8:3-11 Then I lifted up mine eyes, and saw, and, behold, there stood before the river a ram which had two horns: and the two horns were high; but one was higher than the other, and the higher came up last. I saw the ram pushing westward, and northward, and southward; so that no beasts might stand before him, neither was there any that could deliver out of his hand; but he did according to his will, and became great. And as I was considering, behold, a he-goat came from the west on the face of the whole earth, and touched not the ground: and the goat had a notable horn between his eyes. And he came to the ram that had two horns, which I had seen standing before the river, and ran unto him in the fury of his power. And I saw him come close unto the ram, and he was moved with choler against him, and smote the ram, and broke his two horns: and there was no power in the ram to stand before him, but he cast him down to the ground, and stamped upon him: and there was none that could deliver the ram out of his hand. Then the he-goat became very great. And when he was strong, the great horn was broken. And in its place came up four outstanding ones towards the four winds of the heavens. And out of one of them came forth a little horn, which became very great, toward the south and toward the east and toward the bountiful land. And it waxed great, even to the host of heaven; and it cast down some of the host and of the stars to the ground, and stamped upon them. Yea, he magnified himself even to the prince of the host, and by him the daily sacrifice was taken away, and the place of his sanctuary was cast down.

In the vision in chapter 8, the ram represents the Medes-Persians, while the he-goat is Greece. The two horns on the ram represents the two parts of the kingdom--the Medes and the Persians. The great horn is the Grecian ruler Alexander the Great. When Alexander dies (and the great horn is broken), his kingdom is divided up to four of his generals (Cassander, Lysimachus, Seleucus and Ptolemy). One little horn arises which is Antiochus Epiphanes, who becomes very great in power. This is where the story of chanukah happens. Antiochus casts down the stars to the ground, with the stars representing Israel ("I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky" (Genesis 26:4).) Antiochus takes away the daily sacrifice from the temple, and the temple is defiled.


Below is an account of the events of Chanukah which happened during the time of Antiochus Epiphanes. I do not believe the book of Maccabees is an inspired book and do not believe it should be in the Bible, but it is a history book filled with accounts from the past. Additionally, I will be using Josephus as a source. Josephus was a Roman-Jewish scholar who lived from about 37-100 AD. He wrote a 20 volume historical-geographical work which documents Jewish history from Adam and Eve through the Jewish-Roman War (66-73 AD). Maccabees and Josephus are used to give a more complete account of the events which happened during this time period.

1 Maccabees 1:1 After Alexander the Macedonian, Philip’s son, who came from the land of Kittim,* had defeated Darius, king of the Persians and Medes, he became king in his place, having first ruled in Greece.

1 Maccabees 1:10-15 There sprang from these a sinful offshoot, Antiochus Epiphanes, son of King Antiochus, once a hostage at Rome. He became king in the one hundred and thirty-seventh year* of the kingdom of the Greeks. In those days there appeared in Israel transgressors of the law who seduced many, saying: “Let us go and make a covenant with the Gentiles all around us; since we separated from them, many evils have come upon us.” The proposal was agreeable; some from among the people promptly went to the king, and he authorized them to introduce the ordinances of the Gentiles. Thereupon they built a gymnasium* in Jerusalem according to the Gentile custom. They disguised their circumcision and abandoned the holy covenant; they allied themselves with the Gentiles and sold themselves to wrongdoing.

(A side note: the building of a gymnasium was done in order to host olympic events. The olympics in ancient days used to be performed in the nude. Hence, a male's circumcision was easily seen when competing. In order to hide their circumcision, Jews would either have procedures done to un-do their circumcision or not circumcise their sons. Either way, by neglecting circumcision, Jews were violating God's covenant He made with Abraham. "You are to undergo circumcision, and it will be the sign of the covenant between Me and you. For the generations to come every male among you who is eight days old must be circumcised, including those born in your household or bought with money from a foreigner--those who are not your offspring. Whether born in your household or bought with your money, they must be circumcised. My covenant in your flesh is to be an everlasting covenant. Any uncircumcised male, who has not been circumcised in the flesh will be cut off from his people; he has broken my covenant" Genesis 17:11-14.)

1 Maccabees 1:20-24 After Antiochus had defeated Egypt in the one hundred and forty-third year,* he returned and went up against Israel and against Jerusalem with a strong force. He insolently entered the sanctuary* and took away the golden altar, the lampstand for the light with all its utensils, the offering table, the cups and bowls, the golden censers, and the curtain. The cornices and the golden ornament on the facade of the temple—he stripped it all off. And he took away the silver and gold and the precious vessels; he also took all the hidden treasures he could find. Taking all this, he went back to his own country. He shed much blood and spoke with great arrogance.

(This echoes Daniel's prophecy in chapter 8 verse 11 which speaks about Antiochus's arrogance: "Yea, he magnified himself even to the prince of the host".)

1 Maccabees 1:41-50 Then the king wrote to his whole kingdom that all should be one people, and abandon their particular customs. All the Gentiles conformed to the command of the king, and many Israelites delighted in his religion; they sacrificed to idols and profaned the sabbath. The king sent letters by messenger to Jerusalem and to the cities of Judah, ordering them to follow customs foreign to their land; to prohibit burnt offerings, sacrifices, and libations in the sanctuary, to profane the sabbaths and feast days, to desecrate the sanctuary and the sacred ministers, to build pagan altars and temples and shrines, to sacrifice swine and unclean animals, to leave their sons uncircumcised, and to defile themselves with every kind of impurity and abomination; so that they might forget the law and change all its ordinances. Whoever refused to act according to the command of the king was to be put to death.

(It is worthy to note a key factor about Antiochus. Antiochus is NOT like Hitler or Haman (from the Book of Esther). Both Hilter and Haman disliked the Jews and wanted all of them killed. They wanted total annihilation of the Jews. However, like the antichrist, Antiochus does not want to kill Jews. He wants them to assimilate. He wants them to lose their Jewish customs and traditions and become one with the world. If you do not assimilate, then you will be annihilated. This "one world" philosophy is very prevalent in our society. Perhaps this is a sign of things to come.)

1 Maccabees 1:54-57 On the fifteenth day of the month Kislev, in the year one hundred and forty five,* the king erected the desolating abomination upon the altar of burnt offerings, and in the surrounding cities of Judah they built pagan altars. They also burned incense at the doors of houses and in the streets. Any scrolls of the law* that they found they tore up and burned. Whoever was found with a scroll of the covenant, and whoever observed the law, was condemned to death by royal decree.

1 Maccabees 1:62-64 But many in Israel were determined and resolved in their hearts not to eat anything unclean; they preferred to die rather than to be defiled with food or to profane the holy covenant; and they did die. And very great wrath came upon Israel. The officers of the king in charge of enforcing the apostasy came to the city of Modein to make them sacrifice. Many of Israel joined them, but Mattathias and his sons drew together. Then the officers of the king addressed Mattathias: “You are a leader, an honorable and great man in this city, supported by sons and kindred. Come now, be the first to obey the king’s command, as all the Gentiles and Judeans and those who are left in Jerusalem have done. Then you and your sons shall be numbered among the King’s Friends,* and you and your sons shall be honored with silver and gold and many gifts.” But Mattathias answered in a loud voice: “Although all the Gentiles in the king’s realm obey him, so that they forsake the religion of their ancestors and consent to the king’s orders, yet I and my sons and my kindred will keep to the covenant of our ancestors. Heaven forbid that we should forsake the law and the commandments. We will not obey the words of the king by departing from our religion in the slightest degree.” As he finished saying these words, a certain Jew came forward in the sight of all to offer sacrifice on the altar in Modein according to the king’s order. When Mattathias saw him, he was filled with zeal; his heart was moved and his just fury was aroused; he sprang forward and killed him upon the altar. At the same time, he also killed the messenger of the king who was forcing them to sacrifice, and he tore down the altar. Thus he showed his zeal for the law, just as Phinehas did with Zimri, son of Salu. Then Mattathias cried out in the city, “Let everyone who is zealous for the law and who stands by the covenant follow me!” Then he and his sons fled to the mountains, leaving behind in the city all their possessions. 

(Those familiar with the Gospel of Matthew chapter 24, can hear the echoes of Jesus' words: "Then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains. Whoever is on the housetop must not go down to get the things outs that are in his house. Whoever is in the field must not turn back to get his cloak" Matthew 24:16-18.)

1 Maccabees 2:32-41 Many hurried out after them, and having caught up with them, camped opposite and prepared to attack them on the sabbath. The pursuers said to them, “Enough of this! Come out and obey the king’s command, and you will live.” But they replied, “We will not come out, nor will we obey the king’s command to profane the sabbath.” Then the enemy attacked them at once. But they did not retaliate; they neither threw stones, nor blocked up their secret refuges. They said, “Let us all die in innocence; heaven and earth are our witnesses that you destroy us unjustly.” So the officers and soldiers attacked them on the sabbath, and they died with their wives, their children and their animals, to the number of a thousand persons. When Mattathias and his friends heard of it, they mourned deeply for them. They said to one another, “If we all do as our kindred have done, and do not fight against the Gentiles for our lives and our laws, they will soon destroy us from the earth.” So on that day they came to this decision: “Let us fight against anyone who attacks us on the sabbath, so that we may not all die as our kindred died in their secret refuges.”

(An important item to note is the decision of Mattathias and his firends to fight on the sabbath. This decision is based on Deuteronomy 8:1 "All the commandments that I am commanding you today you shall be careful to do, that you may live". Mattathias and his friends used this verse to justify defending themselves on the sabbath. If they wanted to uphold God's commandments, they needed to defend themselves even on the LORD'S sabbath. Also, again those familiar with the Gospel of Matthew can hear Jesus' words: "But pray that your flight is not in the winter, nor on the sabbath day" Matthew 24:20. Mattathias and his friends fight on the sabbath, and Chanukah happens on Kislev 25, which is the winter. Fleeing during the winter there is snow in Israel, which makes travel difficult.)


Below is Josephesus's account of the events of Chanukah. This gives a few more details than what is related in the book of Maccabees.

Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews, Book 12, Chapters 6 
6.2 But when those that were appointed by the king were come to Modin, that they might compel the Jews to do what they were commanded, and to enjoin those that were there to offer sacrifice, as the king had commanded, they desired that Mattathias, a person of the greatest character among them, both on other accounts, and particularly on account of such a numerous and so deserving a family of children, would begin the sacrifice, because his fellow citizens would follow his example, and because such a procedure would make him honored by the king. But Mattathias said he would not do it; and that if all the other nations would obey the commands of Antiochus, either out of fear, or to please him, yet would not he nor his sons leave the religious worship of their country. But as soon as he had ended his speech, there came one of the Jews into the midst of them, and sacrificed, as Antiochus had commanded. At which Mattathias had great indignation, and ran upon him violently, with his sons, who had swords with them, and slew both the man himself that sacrificed, and Apelles the king's general, who compelled them to sacrifice, with a few of his soldiers. He also overthrew the idol altar, and cried out, "If," said he," any one be zealous for the laws of his country, and for the worship of God, let him follow me." And when he had said this, he made haste into the desert with his sons, and left all his substance in the village. Many others did the same also, and fled with their children and wives into the desert, and dwelt in caves. But when the king's generals heard this, they took all the forces they then had in the citadel at Jerusalem, and pursued the Jews into the desert; and when they had overtaken them, they in the first place endeavored to persuade them to repent, and to choose what was most for their advantage, and not put them to the necessity of using them according to the law of war. But when they would not comply with their persuasions, but continued to be of a different mind, they fought against them on the sabbath day, and they burnt them as they were in the caves, without resistance, and without so much as stopping up the entrances of the caves.

7.6. When therefore the generals of Antiochus's armies had been beaten so often, Judas assembled the people together, and told them, that after these many victories which God had given them, they ought to go up to Jerusalem, and purify the temple, and offer the appointed sacrifices. But as soon as he, with the whole multitude, was come to Jerusalem, and found the temple deserted, and its gates burnt down, and plants growing in the temple of their own accord, on account of its desertion, he and those that were with him began to lament, and were quite confounded at the sight of the temple; so he chose out some of his soldiers, and gave them order to fight against those guards that were in the citadel, until he should have purified the temple. When therefore he had carefully purged it, and had brought in new vessels, the candlestick, the table [of shew-bread], and the altar [of incense], which were made of gold, he hung up the veils at the gates, and added doors to them. He also took down the altar [of burnt-offering], and built a new one of stones that he gathered together, and not of such as were hewn with iron tools. So on the five and twentieth day of the month Casleu, which the Macedonians call Apeliens, they lighted the lamps that were on the candlestick, and offered incense upon the altar [of incense], and laid the loaves upon the table [of shew-bread], and offered burnt-offerings upon the new altar [of burnt-offering]. Now it so fell out, that these things were done on the very same day on which their Divine worship had fallen off, and was reduced to a profane and common use, after three years' time; for so it was, that the temple was made desolate by Antiochus, and so continued for three years. And this desolation came to pass according to the prophecy of Daniel, which was given four hundred and eight years before; for he declared that the Macedonians would dissolve that worship [for some time]. 7. Now Judas celebrated the festival of the restoration of the sacrifices of the temple for eight days, and omitted no sort of pleasures thereon; but he feasted them upon very rich and splendid sacrifices; and he honored God, and delighted them by hymns and psalms. Nay, they were so very glad at the revival of their customs, when, after a long time of intermission, they unexpectedly had regained the freedom of their worship, that they made it a law for their posterity, that they should keep a festival, on account of the restoration of their temple worship, for eight days. And from that time to this we celebrate this festival, and call it Lights.

Abomination of desolation: Antiochus Epiphanes set up an altar to Zeus over the altar of burnt offering in the Jewish temple in Jerusalem. He also scarified a pig on the altar in the temple. This event is known as the abomination of desolation. Daniel prophesied about this event in Daniel 11:31-33 "And arms shall stand on his part, and they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength, and shall take away the daily sacrifice, and they shall place the abomination that makes desolate. And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries: but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits. And they that understand among the people shall instruct many: yet they shall fall by the sword, and by flame, by captivity, and by spoil, many days."

Moreover, the abomination of desolation has happened again in Jewish history. In 70 AD, the Roman armies surround the Jewish temple in Jerusalem and destroyed it. After the temple was destroyed, the worship overseen by the High Priest ceased. The Temple Mount was covered over with rubble and a pagan temple dedicated to Jupiter was built when Hadrian became Caesar (117-138 AD). Hadrian installed on the mount two statues--one of Jupiter and another of himself. This was seen by the Jews as idolatry and abomination of desolation of their temple.

A problem arises with the Greek mindset: it believes once something happens it cannot happen again. Like a checklist, once something has been crossed off the list, it cannot be completed again. This is VERY different from the eastern (Jewish mindset). They believe if an event has happened, it WILL happen again. Everything happens in a circular fashion. As Josephus says, the abomination of desolation happened during Antiochus Epiphanes's reign. Jews also hold this view that the abomination of desolation has already occurred. As Jesus says in Matthew 24:15, the abomination of desolation will also occur in the future. Matthew 24:15 "Therefore when you see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place (whoever reads, let him understand)."


A summary of Jesus' words given in Matthew 24 regarding a future Chanukah which reminds the Jews of the events which happened during the 168 BC Chanukah:

Matthew 24:3 And as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? And what shall be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the world?

Matthew 24:15 Therefore when you see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place (whoever reads, let him understand). 

Matthew 24:9,10 Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake. And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.

Matthew 24:12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.

Matthew 24:16 Then let those in Judea flee into the mountains.

Matthew 24:20,21 But pray that your flight is not in the winter, nor on the sabbath day; for then shall be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world to this time; no, nor ever shall be.


Reasons for keeping Chanukah
1. Jesus kept Chanukah. Jesus went to the Temple to celebrate Chanukah. If Chanukah matters to Jesus, shouldn't it matter to us?

2. It's about re-dedicating God's temple. Chanukah means "dedication". It is a remembrance of when the Jews re-dedicated God's Holy Temple to serve only the LORD. Scripture tells us we are God's Temple. If Chanukah is a festival about the dedication of God's Temple, and we are God's Temple, shouldn't it matter to us?

3. It's about being persecuted for righteousness's sake. Chanukah is a story of religious persecution and standing up for faith in God. Jesus tells us that we can expect persecution, but He also tells us we must stand strong in our faith. If Chanukah is a story about being persecuted for one's faith, shouldn't it matter to us?

4. It's about not hiding your light under a bushel. Chanukah is the Festival of Light. It celebrates the re-lighting of the menorah lamp that burned in God's Holy Temple. In rabbinic terminology, the menorah was called the "light of the world". Jesus said, "I am the Light of the world," and another time He told His disciples, "You are the light of the world." If Chanukah is the Festival of the Light of the World, shouldn't it matter to us?

5. Prophetically Chanukah will happen again. Jesus talked about Chanukah. He warned His disciples that the things that happened in the story of Chanukah would happen again (see Mark 13 and Matthew 24). To understand what Jesus was saying, His disciples had to know the story of Chanukah. If Jesus talked about the story of Chanukah, and His disciples knew the story, shouldn't it matter to us?