Israel had been under Seleucid rule for a long time; initially, the occupation was peaceful. The Jewish people were permitted to maintain their culture and religious devotion to one God as opposed to the multi-deity religion of their conquerors. But a new Seleucid king came to the throne, and he wanted to destroy Judaism. Circumcision became punishable by death. Worship in the Temple ceased. A statue of Zeus was placed in the Temple, and when a pig was sacrificed in the Temple, devout Jews led by a Jewish priest and his sons, the Maccabees, revolted. It was an uprising about earthly power verses the commandments of God. The odds were highly favorable to the Seleucids, but when their forces were needed elsewhere, the Maccabean-lead guerilla forces conquered Jerusalem and reclaimed the Temple (167 BCE).
The first objective of the rebels was to clean and consecrate the Temple; this was accomplished. The Menorah of Seven branches was rebuilt. Its seven cups were available to receive oil, but only one vial of oil, sufficient for a single day, was found.
Eight days were needed to purify new holy oil for the seven-branch menorah that had been significant in the Temple worship since the time of Moses. A decision was made to use the one vial of oil while new holy oil was being prepared. The one-day supply burned and gave light for eight days. Two miracles had occurred—the Maccabees had routed the Seleucid forces from Jerusalem by engaging in strategic guerilla warfare to reclaim the holy city and the Temple. A one-day supply of holy oil lasted for eight days in the rededicated Temple.
Miracles still happen. Yes, they happen in our lives. We make the choice to see and acknowledge them. People often refer to miracles as myths and legends. I call them God-movements in time and space.
Reflections
There are two menorahs in Judaism.
The first is mentioned in the Bible in Exodus 25:31-40. It suggests the Tree of Life. It has seven branches representing the days of the week and the middle branch represents the Sabbath. It is simply referred to as the Menorah.
The Hanukkah Menorah has eight branches and was designed after the rededication of the Second Temple by the Maccabean guerrilla fighters who drove the Seleucid forces from Jerusalem in 167 BCE. The eight branches (plus a middle servant branch to light each one) commemorate the one vial of oil that lasted 8 days while new oil was being purified for the Temple.
The candles are placed on the menorah from right to left (Hebrew is read in this manner). They are lit from left to right.
Hanukkah (dedication) is also called the Festival of Lights, Festival of Dedication.
Dorothy Watson Tatem, D. Min, ACC
Senior Associate
Next Step Associates, LLC
Cassandra W. Jones, Ed.D.
CEO & President