Hanukkah is an ancient Jewish celebration that has roots in the 2nd century BCE. It is the celebration of a miraculous happening of oil lasting eight days when only one day was expected. The story of Hanukkah is told through the narrative of the Maccabees and the liberation of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem. But when exactly did this event take place?
The answer to when the story of Hanukkah took place is quite complex due to the debates surrounding the relative dating of the event. According to the traditional chronology, the event happened in the year 168 BCE. This date is based on Josephus’ work “Antiquities of the Jews” which dates the rebellion of the Maccabees and the resulting rededication of the Temple in the 2nd year of the reign of Antiochus IV Epiphanes (who is referenced in the narrative of the Hanukkah story). This was later corroborated by some writers of the Talmud who, by citing historical accounts gave the date as Kislev 25 (November/December) in the year 168 BCE.
However, there have been some debates over this date as the latest archaeological evidence has suggested a later date of 164 BCE as the year of the event. More recent dating evidence has also been documented which pushed the timeline even further back to the late autumn of 165 BCE.
This later chronological dating was mainly proposed by contemporary scholars like Prof. Martin Hengel and Prof. Lawrence Schiffman as it fits better in the context of the historical events relating to the Hellenistic period. The archaeological evidence which supports the later dating includes coins found amongst the Temple debris which dates back to this timeline.
At the same time, many contemporary scholars have argued that it is impossible to determine the exact date for this event due to lack of contemporary evidence, however, it is commonly accepted by most researchers that the Hanukkah event probably took place shortly before the year 164 BCE.
In conclusion, the exact date of the Hanukkah story is still open to debate amongst scholars, yet it is generally accepted that the event took place in either 165 or 164 BCE. The evidence which supports the later date is mainly archaeological evidence such as coins found amongst the Temple debris. Whatever the exact date, the story of the Hanukkah event remains a remarkable and inspirational example of perseverance and valour in the face of adversity.
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Last update 2023-11-27. Price and product availability may change.