Learn about the Festival of Lights.
G-d = in this article, the vowel is intentionally left out in respect to Jews who don’t want to take the Lord’s name in vain.
BC (Before Christ) and BCE (Before Common Era) represent the same time frame. However, for this article, I have chosen to use BCE.
The Festival of Lights
This article is told through the backdrop of the Prophet Daniel.
When the nation of Israel was taken into captivity by Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon, young men endowed with great knowledge and understanding were captured and forced to serve in the king’s court. A handsome young man named Daniel was one of them. Daniel was a righteous man of character and set himself apart from all the others. One night the king had a disturbing dream. He ordered all the wise men to appear before him and asked if any of them could tell him his dream and its interpretation. None could, so the king was outraged and issued a decree to destroy the men. Dismayed by the king’s anger, Daniel prayed and the G-d of Heaven revealed the dream to him. Daniel praised G-d and went before the king to explain the dream. He explained that while on his bed, the king dreamt of what would take place in the future. The dream was of a large statue, with a head constructed of gold, the arms and breastplate made from silver, the belly and thighs composed of bronze, and the legs of iron. Moreover, the feet were made partially from iron and clay. This kingdom would be a divided kingdom with parts strong like iron and some weak as clay. As the king looked on, a large stone was cut and struck the feet destroying the statue.
Daniel went on to give the interpretation of the dream. Each of the metals represented kingdoms, with Babylon being the head of gold. Similar to metals, each subsequent kingdom would be inferior to the previous kingdom (e.g., silver is substandard to gold). With the passing of time, history revealed the remaining kingdoms. As stated, the gold represented Babylon, the silver signified the Medes and Persian (two powers illustrated by the two arms of the statue), the bronze represented Greece, and the iron Rome. The divided kingdom displayed by the feet made from iron and clay has not yet occurred, as there is a break in the prophecy, according to scripture. The prophecy was told with such accuracy that many have thought and challenged the writings of Daniel. Supposing they were written later than documented.
By now, you might be wondering what does this have to do with the Festival of Lights. Stay with me. It’s during the Grecian reign (represented by the belly and thighs of bronze and the four headed leopard in Daniel’s dream as described in Dan. 7:6) when the swift moving Alexander the Great conquered the Persian Empire. After his death in 323 BCE there was no heir to inherit his kingdom (a child was born after his death), so it was divided amongst his four generals. Two empires bordered Israel. To the north was the Seleucid Empire (Syria) and to the south was the Ptolemaic Empire (Egypt). As they battled for power, the Jews were often subjects of the fighting between the two kingdoms. Some Jews favored Ptolemy while others favored the Greek influenced Seleucids. They’re often referred to as Hellenized Jews. In 200 BCE at the Battle of Panium, the Jewish city of Judea became part of the Seleucid kingdom under King Antiochus III the Great. He allowed the Jews to continue with their religious traditions and practice their faith in the temple.
In 175 BCE, a vicious ruler came to power. His name was Mithradates who became Antiochus IV Epiphanes when he fought his way to the throne. Later while Antiochus IV Epiphanes was in Egypt, a false rumor circulated that he had died. In 168 BCE, he stormed the city of Jerusalem and ransacked the temple. Carousing and debauchery filled the most sacred place. Judaism was outlawed. When pagan worship was refused by Mattathias and another Jew came forward to perform the sacrifice, Mattathias killed him, showing zeal for the Law. Mattathias and his sons, one known as Judah Maccabeus and others fled to the wilderness (1 Maccabees 2:28-29). For 3 ½ years, Antiochus IV Epiphanes put an end to their daily sacrifices in the temple. In 167 BCE, he erected an altar to the Greek g-d, Zeus, and sacrificed pigs (an unclean animal according to the Mosaic Law) on it. The Jews were outraged and refused to worship this false g-d, so this vicious ruler sent his military to enforce his mandate. Widespread massacre occurred. His persecution of the Jews was harsh and thus caused a revolt.
In 165 BCE, the Maccabean revolt was victorious and they recaptured the temple and purified it from all its defilement. They sought pure oil to light the lampstand. One vessel was found which held the High Priest’s identifiable seal. They knew this oil was unadulterated, but there was only enough to light the menorah for one day. Miraculously it lasted eight days! Allowing them to create pure oil to replenish it and rededicate the temple.
The Festival of Lights is a celebration of the rededication of the temple. It begins on the 25th day of Kislew (Hebrew calendar), which falls around our November/December time frame. It is observed for eight days and nights. During the commemoration, Jews light a special nine-branch menorah. One branch, typically elevated, lights the other candles – one each night till all are lit by the end of the celebration. No mourning is permitted, as it is a joyous occasion. For G-d had given them a miracle.
On the anniversary of the day on which the Gentiles had desecrated it, on that very day it was rededicated with songs, harps, lyres, and cymbals. All the people prostrated themselves and adored and praised Heaven, who had given them success. For eight days they celebrated the dedication of the altar and joyfully offered burnt offerings and sacrifices of deliverance and praise.
1 Maccabees 4: 54-56
© By Sheri Lamas