Hanukkah, also known as the Festival of Lights, is an eight-day Jewish holiday celebrated annually in December or January. This celebration commemorates the rededication of the Jewish temple in Jerusalem known as the “Miracle of Hanukkah”. Many believe it celebrates the Jewish victory in a 168 BCE revolt against the Greek-Syrians who controlled the region at the time. But what does the Bible say about this widely celebrated holiday?
The Bible does not mention the celebration of Hanukkah explicitly. Rather, the Book of Maccabees in the Apocrypha (which is part of the English translations but not of the Hebrew Bible) recounts the story of the Jews’ successful rebel against the Greeks and subsequent rededication of the temple. It is from this book that we learn the details of the Hanukkah celebration, including the lighting of the menorah for eight days.
The Biblical story of Hanukkah alludes to in the Book of Daniel, Chapter 8. Here we learn of an “immense horn” that was broken, which many believe represents the Greek empire which was defeated by the Maccabees.
In the Book of John 10:22–23, Hanukkah is referred to in a disguised form when Jesus speaks of celebrating a “festival of dedication”. The passage does not explicitly name Hanukkah, but Bible commentators believe that Jesus alludes to the festival.
Hanukkah is mentioned in a few other places in the Bible but only as an historical reference, not as a celebratory event. The Talmud, a collection of Jewish laws and traditions, also mentions the story of the Maccabees but does not refer to Hanukkah as a celebration.
Many of the traditions and rituals we associate with Hanukkah, including the lighting of the menorah, were established much later in Jewish history. The festival has been celebrated in various forms since the second century BCE, and may have adapted some of the rituals from other festivals and religious practices.
Overall, while the Bible does not specify that Hanukkah should be celebrated, the history and significance of the Maccabean revolt is an important part of the Old Testament narrative. Hanukkah, which celebrates the victory of the Jews against the Greeks, is a reminder of God’s power and His love for His people. As we light the menorah and sing the songs of the Maccabees, let us be thankful for God’s grace and presence throughout history.
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Last update 2023-11-27. Price and product availability may change.