The Feast of Dedication,

 

 

 

Also known as “Hanukkah,” is an eight-day high holy week, commemorating our forefathers cleansing and dedicating the Lord’s holy sanctuary.  The origins of this feast begin with the prophecy in Daniel Chapter 8, which discusses the beginning of the Greek empire and the prophecy of Alexander the Great, a powerful ruler that had the dark-skinned nations in subjection to him during his reign. He eventually divided his empire among four of his notable generals before his death. One of them being General Seleucus was given the land of Syria and had a son named Antiochus, who became a great force as King.  He ruled over Egypt, Elymais, Armenia and Israel. King Antiochus eventually defeated the Israelites in war and indoctrinated them with his religion and philosophies. He enforced laws that prohibited Israel’s observance of holy gatherings and daily sacrificial practices in the Lord’s sanctuary. Some Israelites succumbed to the king’s commandments and defiled themselves by making sacrifices unto pagan idols, swine’s flesh, and profaning the Lord’s holy feasts.

During this tumultuous time in Israel, Mattathias, an Israelite from the tribe of Levi, along with his sons and brethren, unified themselves to walk in the covenant of their fathers. In seeking justice, they smote sinful men, destroyed pagan altars, circumcised all children they found uncircumcised and recovered the book of the law from the hands of the Greeks. When Mattathias died, his son Judas (also called Maccabee which means the hammer) fought for and cleansed the sanctuary with his brethren. In righteousness, these men of the Lord offered sacrifice according to the law upon the new altar of burnt offerings they had made.

1 Maccabees 4:56– And so they kept the feast of dedication of the altar eight days and offered burnt offerings with gladness, and sacrificed the sacrifice of deliverance and praise.

:57– They decked also the forefront of the temple with crowns of gold, and with shields; and the gates and the chambers they renewed, and hanged doors upon them.

:58– Thus was there very great gladness among the people, for that the reproach of the heathen was put away.

:59– Moreover Judas and his brethren with the whole congregation of Israel ordained, that the days of the dedication of the altar should be kept in their season from year to year by the space of eight days, from the five and twentieth day of the month Casleu, with mirth and gladness.

The opening and closing of this feast are to be kept as Sabbaths where there is no working, buying, or selling. Cooking is permitted for these particular Sabbaths (both the first and last day of the feast).

Scriptural References

Scriptures pertaining to the history behind the Feast of Dedication can be found in the following books and chapters: 1 Maccabees 1:41-52, and 1 Maccabees Chapter 4 and John 10:22-23.