What is Hanukkah?

What is Hanukkah?
By Kelly McDonald, Jr.

When most people hear the word “Hanukkah”, they tend to think of it as only a Jewish tradition. However, the Hebrew word Hanukkah (or its alternative spelling Chanukkah) is found eight times in the Old Testament (Numbers 7:10-11, 84-88, 2 Chronicles 7:9, Nehemiah 12:27, Ezra 6:16-17, and Psalm 30:1). It means to be dedicated for a specific purpose. When we look at these references, we learn that many of them are connected to the Tabernacle or Temple.

What about the celebration called Hanukkah? Where does it come from? Many people do not realize that the history of the events in the Hanukkah story were foretold by God in the book of Daniel!

During the 330s and 320s BC, the famous Macedonian general Alexander the Great conquered from Greece all the way to India (map below). His armies spread Greek culture and the worship of other gods, called Hellenism, wherever they traveled. The land of Israel was one of the areas he controlled and spread Greek ways.

Not long after establishing this huge empire, Alexander died. His empire was divided into four separate kingdoms. Of them, two lasted a long period of time. Most of Daniel chapter 11 is focused on these two kingdoms.

The Seleucid kingdom was located north of Israel. Its capital was located in modern-day Syria. The Ptolemaic kingdom was south of Israel and based in modern-day Egypt. In Daniel chapter 11, the rulers of these kingdoms are respectively called the King of the North and King of the South. The land of Israel was located between them. A map below illustrates these kingdoms and their boundaries at the time of the Hanukkah story.

As time passed, the influence of Greek culture and religion gradually increased among the Jewish population in Judea and Jerusalem. A rift occurred between those Jewish people who were devoted to the ways of the one True God and those who wanted to mix with Greek culture and religion. From time to time the kings of the North and South took advantage of this division for their own purposes.

In 175 BC, Antiochus IV (Epiphanes) became King of the North through intrigue and deception, but he was not the rightful heir to the throne (Daniel 11:21). He eagerly desired to conquer the Kingdom of the South (see map above). In 168 BC, he failed for the second time because the Roman Republic prevented his advances. Angered at this event, Antiochus decided to release his anger on the Jewish people.

When Antiochus approached Jerusalem, he presented himself in a peaceful manner. Once his army entered the city, they turned on the Jewish people. The soldiers killed many of them and sold others into slavery. Antiochus defiled the Temple of God. He had a pig offered on the bronze Altar of Sacrifice. Its blood was spread inside the Temple and sprinkled on Torah scrolls. He ordered a statue of Zeus to be erected in the courtyards. He declared himself ‘god manifest.’ The True God foretold these events in Daniel 11:29-31.

Below, we have a picture of a coin struck during the reign of Antiochus. On the left side, we see the face of Antiochus IV. On the other side Zeus is depicted. He is seated on a throne with a scepter in one hand and the goddess Nike on the other hand.

The Greek words on one side of the coin read as follows:
To the left of Zeus: BAΣIΛEΩΣ ANTIOXOY (English: King Antiochus)
To the right of Zeus: ΘEOY EΠIΦANOY (English: god Manifest)
Below Zeus: NIKEΦOΡOY (English: Bringer of Victory)

Antiochus forced the Greek religion on the Jewish people and banned Biblical practices, including Sabbath observance and reading of the Torah. Torah scrolls were burned. He sent troops across the country to compel all the natives to sacrifice to idols and eat swine’s flesh. Those who compromised were assured riches and positions of authority. Some people did not compromise, and they were martyred by the thousands. However, many others compromised.  

In the town of Modin, a priest named Mattathias started a courageous uprising against Antiochus’ invasion. He refused to compromise with the ways of God and led an armed revolt. Though he died during the war, his son Judas called Maccabeus (meaning ‘hammer’) continued the fight. Those who joined their cause were named Maccabees after him. Despite being outnumbered and underequipped, the Jewish people won battle after battle against the Greek armies.

In 165 BC, the Maccabees tried to re-take Jerusalem. Once they took the Temple area, their first act was to cleanse and dedicate it again unto God. They started the Temple dedication on the 25^th day of the Hebrew month Kislev. This was the exact same day that it had been defiled three years earlier. They erected a new altar of stones according to Exodus 20:24 and offered sacrifices according to the Law. They re-kindled the menorah and altar of incense. They added bread back to the golden table of shewbread. They celebrated this dedication for eight days with festive food and praises to God.

The chief historical account of these events is called the First Book of Maccabees. In it, we learn about these events and the restoration of Temple worship and the establishment of Hanukkah. We have an excerpt below:

“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” (I Maccabees 4:52-59, NRSVUE).

From that time until now, the Jewish people celebrate the rededication of the Temple at Hanukkah. Moreover, they celebrate the Maccabee victory over the Greeks’ attempt to eradicate the ways of God Almighty and their people. Truly, these events are miraculous. Against incredible odds, God’s people fought back against tyranny.

There is a fascinating story concerning this cleansing of the Temple, which may or may not be true (we will post an article on this subject in the future). As the priests prepared to rekindle the menorah, they needed oil. Jewish legend says that they only found one undefiled jar of oil. Though it was only enough oil to last one day, the menorah then stayed lit for eight days.

Many people remember the miracle of the oil. Though this particular aspect of the story may not have happened, many other miraculous events did actually happen. This includes the preservation of the Scriptures, resisting syncretism and compromise, the victory of God’s people against overwhelming odds, and the rededication of the Temple in the midst of war.

In John 10:22-39, we learn that Jesus taught in the Temple area during Hanukkah. In verse 22, the Greek word translated as “feast of Dedication” is egkainia, which means “in newness”. During it, he taught us that His sheep listen to His voice and that no one can pluck us from His hand. These are relevant lessons during this season as the Greeks tried to eradicate the Jewish people. Those who knew their God resisted the tide of evil in that time (Daniel 11:32).

Does Hanukkah have meaning for Christians today?
Hanukkah has meaning for Christians today. First, Jesus taught spiritual truths during that season (John 10:22-39). Second, the perseverance of the Jewish people during this time allowed the Torah to be preserved so that the early disciples and even believers today could have it. Third, the events of Hanukkah foreshadow future prophetic events that have yet to happen (Daniel 11:40-45, Zech. 9:9-13, 14:1-3, Matt. 24:15-19, 2 Thess. 2). Fourth, the events surrounding the Hanukkah story help to form the political and social background that would exist in Judea when Jesus walked on earth. Lastly, the Apostle Paul taught that our bodies are the Temple of the Holy Spirit (I Cor. 3:15-16). This provides believers with a deeper personal application of the Hanukkah story. Just as the Jewish people drove out all uncleanness and pagan practices from the Temple, so Christians must do the same with our redeemed vessels.

I hope this article helped you learn about the Hanukkah story and its meaning for believers today!

God Bless,

Kelly McDonald, Jr.

Bibliography
Encyclopedia Britannica 11th edition Articles (7): Alexander the Great, Asia Minor, Maccabees, Macedonian empire, Ptolemies, Seleucia, Seleucid Dynasty.

Jewish Encyclopedia 1901-1905 (10): Antiochus IV, Hanukkah, Heliodorus, Jason, Maccabeus, Maccabees, Menelaus, Mattathias Maccabeus, Seleucidae, Tobiads.

I Maccabees chapters 1-4. New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.