Where in the Bible Do We Find Hanukkah?
Channel: Galen Currah
Date: 2017-12-10

Where in the Bible Do We Find Hanukkah?
Bible quotations taken from the English Standard Version (2016)
www.wordwatchers.link 2017

Hanukkah celebrates the rededication of Solomon’s Temple at Jerusalem in 165 BCE, following its desecration by the Greek-speaking armies of Antiochus IV Epiphanes.

The Festival of Hanukkah is not found in the Tanach, the Palestinian Hebrew Bible, the Old Testament, nor in the Dead Sea Scrolls.

However, the historical events leading to the first Hanukkah are recounted in the Septuagint, the Alexandrian Greek Bible, in the Books of 1st and 2nd Maccabees.

Briefly, in the years BCE:

Following the death of Alexander the Great in 323, his four generals divide up conquered territories into four kingdoms: Greece, Macedonia, Egypt and Syria. The Kings of Syria are called Seleucid.

In 198 armies of the Seleucid King Antiochus III the Great ousts Greek King Ptolemy V from Judea and Samaria.

In 175 Antiochus IV Epiphanes ascends the Seleucid throne.

In 168 Antiochus’ troops loot the Jerusalem temple, massacring Jews and outlawing Judaism.

In 167 Antiochus orders an altar dedicated to the god Zeus erected in the Temple. Mattathias and his five sons mount a revolt against Antiochus.

In 166 Mattathias dies, and Judah, called “the Hammer," takes his place as leader. The Hasmonean Jewish Kingdom begins, lasting until 63 BCE.

In 165 the Jews succeed in recapturing the Temple, which is cleansed and rededicated (Hanukkah), which took eight days.

Finally, in 142 The Seleucids recognize Jewish autonomy.

Thus, the Feast of Dedication (Hanukkah) has become an annual Winter holiday for Jews everywhere.

The only express mention of the Festival of Hanukkah in the Bible is found in the Greek Gospel of John, chapter 10.

It is somewhere between the 6th and 13th of December of the year 33 CE…

At that time the Feast of Dedication [Hanukkah] took place at Jerusalem. It was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple, in the colonnade of Solomon. So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.” John 10:22-24

In the 5th century BCE, the Prophet Daniel foretold the events leading to the Festival of Hanukkah.

“Forces from him shall appear and profane the temple and fortress, and shall take away the regular burnt offering. And they shall set up the abomination that makes desolate.” Daniel 11:31

The Alexandrian Greek Bible records the fulfillment of that prediction.

“The king also sent edicts by messenger to Jerusalem and the towns of Judah, directing them to adopt customs foreign to the country, banning burnt offerings, sacrifices and libations from the sanctuary, profaning Sabbaths and feasts, defiling the sanctuary and everything holy.” 1 Maccabees 1:44-46 

Daniel also predicted a far future when similar events would come to pass.

“From the time that the regular burnt offering is taken away and the abomination that makes desolate is set up, there shall be 1,290 days.” Daniel 12:11

In 33 CE, Jesus explained that this prediction made by Daniel would come to pass sometime after Jesus’ own death and resurrection.

“When you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place …, then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.” Matthew 24:15-16

If you keep the festival of Hanukkah, then, please, remember Jesus who did the same.