This content has been archived. It may no longer be relevant
Chanukah (or Hanukkah) begins at sundown this Sunday, 22 December 2019. It is an 8 day observance, colloquially known as the “Festival of Lights”. Do you know the history of this festival, or why it is observed at all? If not, you’ve come to the right place because I want to discuss the history behind it and why we as talmidim (disciples) should be familiar with it.
Division of an Empire
In the 4th century BC, the Macedonian King known as Alexander “the Great” began a campaign of conquest that would ultimately see his empire expand across the Mediterranean through portions of Arabia. It would extend south into Egypt, and reach as far east as India.
Following the death of Alexander in 332 BC, the empire was ultimately divided into 5 parts; the Kingdoms of Epirus (in pink below), Ptolemy (in blue), Cassander (in green), Lysimachus (in orange) and Seluecus I Nicator (in yellow)… it is the massive, Seluecid empire that is our focus. It would stand until its annexation by Rome in 63 BC.
In 175 BC, Mithradates ascended the throne of the Seluecid empire and assumed the name Antiochus IV Epiphanes, or “God Manifest”… the Fourth. Can’t you just feel the benevolence and humility running through this family line?
Trouble in the Temple
At this time, the Second Temple stood and Onias III had been the Cohen Gadol or High Priest. Onias was opposed the Hellenization of Judea and up to this point, the Jews had been permitted to worship God and observe the Torah in accordance with the scriptures.
When Antiochus ascended the throne, Onias’ brother, Jason paid Antiochus to name him as High Priest and he therefore succeeded his brother to the office. Jason, originally Yeshua in Hebrew, was a Hellenizer and had his name changed to reflect Greek culture. Jason’s primary “accomplishments” included the building of a gymnasium in Jerusalem (which is hardly as innocuous as it sounds) and the creation of a Polis named Antioch.
In 171 BC, Jason sent Menelaus to deliver the required tribute to Antiochus. At this time, Menelaus took the opportunity to “outbid” Jason for the office of High Priest and essentially deposed Jason. Menelaus would prove to be even more of a Hellenizer than Jason, with whom the conflict had not yet ended. Further, in order to make good on the obligations he’d incurred, Menelaus seized the sacred vessels in the Temple stores.
When word of this reached Onias (the deposed High Priest), he publicly accused Menelaus of robbing the temple. Fearful of the consequences this truthful allegation could incur, Menelaus conspired with the King’s Lieutenant, Andronicus to kill Onias who’d taken refuge at Daphne. Following the murder of Onias, Menelaus and the complicit Andronicus would continue to plunder the Temple Treasures until violence ensued.
In 168 BC, Jason would return to Jerusalem with 1,000 soldiers in an attempt to reclaim control of Jerusalem. This effort would succeed, even if only momentarily and force Menelaus to flee Jerusalem…
Antiochus & Egypt
In 170 BC, amidst considerable political turmoil, Antiochus had launched a campaign against Aegyptus (Egypt). In so doing he had conquered all but Alexandria and had even captured the King, Ptolemy. In an effort to avoid drawing the unwanted attention of Rome (not yet the monolithic power it was destined to become), he allowed Ptolemy VI to continue ruling, but only as a form of “puppet king”. Upon Antiochus’ withdrawal however, Alexandria chose a new king; Ptolemy VIII who co-ruled with his brother, Ptolemy VI. I’m sure you can imagine how Antiochus felt about this.
In 168 BC Antiochus returned to Egypt on a second campaign but prior to reaching Alexandria, was met by the Roman Envoy, Gaius Popillius Laenas. The Roman historian Titus Livius reported the confrontation as follows:
After receiving the submission of the inhabitants of Memphis and of the rest of the Egyptian people, some submitting voluntarily, others under threats, [Antiochus] marched by easy stages towards Alexandria. After crossing the river at Eleusis, about four miles from Alexandria, he was met by the Roman commissioners, to whom he gave a friendly greeting and held out his hand to Popilius. Popilius, however, placed in his hand the tablets on which was written the decree of the senate and told him first of all to read it.
After reading it through, he said he would call his friends into council and consider what he ought to do. Popilius, stern and imperious as ever, drew a circle round the king with the stick he was carrying and said, “Before you step out of that circle give me a reply to lay before the senate.” For a few moments he hesitated, astounded at such a peremptory order, and at last replied, “I will do what the senate thinks right.” Not till then did Popilius extend his hand to the king as to a friend and ally.
Antiochus evacuated Egypt at the appointed date, and the commissioners exerted their authority to establish a lasting concord between the brothers, as they had as yet hardly made peace with each other.
Ab Urbe Condita, xlv. 12
It is reported that during this period, a rumor spread throughout Judea that Antiochus had died… this around the time that Jason attacked Jerusalem. Whether or not this would have had a significant impact on the events transpiring in Jerusalem, I’ll leave for you to decide.
The Second Book of the Maccabees records what followed:
When the news of these events reached the king, he thought Judea was in revolt. So he broke camp and marched from Egypt while wild with emotion, and took the city by force. He commanded his soldiers to cut down without mercy anyone they met and to slaughter those fleeing into their houses. They killed young and old, murdered adolescents, women and children, and slaughtered virgins and infants. Over a three-day period, eighty thousand people’s lives were ruined. Forty thousand were killed in hand-to-hand fighting, and no fewer than those slaughtered were sold as slaves.
2 Maccabees 5:11 – 14 (CEB)
At this time, Antiochus reinstated Menelaus as High Priest and plundered the Temple stores, taking for himself both implements belonging to the temple as well as items donated by rulers throughout the ages. Second Maccabees records that he (Antiochus) took 102,600 pounds of silver from the Temple.
The story doesn’t end there – in fact, we’re only getting started and it already reads like the premise of a miniseries! Next week we’ll continue through a look at the chronology and get a better grasp on what we are commemorating through the observance of this festival.
Until then…
חג שמח – Chag Sameach – Joyous Festival
שלום עליכם – Shalom Aleichem – Peace Be Upon You