Editing Hanukkah (section)

== History ==

=== Background ===
{{Further|Coele-Syria}}
[[File:Jerusalem Modell BW 2.JPG|thumb|[[Holyland Model of Jerusalem|A model]] of [[Jerusalem during the Second Temple Period]]]]
After the [[death of Alexander the Great]] in 323 [[BCE]], [[Judea]] became part of the [[Ptolemaic Kingdom]] of Egypt until 200 BCE, when King [[Antiochus III the Great]] of [[Coele-Syria|Syria]] defeated King [[Ptolemy V Epiphanes]] of Egypt at the [[Battle of Panium]]. Judea then became part of the [[Seleucid Empire]] of Syria.<ref name="auto">{{cite book|title=The History of the Second Temple Period|last=Sacchi|first=Paolo|year=2004|isbn=978-0-567-04450-1|publisher=Bloomsbury Publishing}}</ref> King Antiochus III the Great, wanting to conciliate his new Jewish subjects, guaranteed their right to "live according to their ancestral customs" and to continue to practice their religion in the Temple of Jerusalem.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thelatinlibrary.com/liv.html|title=T. Livivs|website=TheLatinLibrary.com|access-date=6 October 2018}}</ref> The Seleucids, like the Ptolemies before them, held a [[suzerainty]] over Judea, where they respected Jewish culture and protected Jewish institutions. This policy was drastically reversed by [[Antiochus IV Epiphanes]], the son of Antiochus III, seemingly after what was either a dispute over leadership of the Temple in Jerusalem and the office of [[High Priest of Israel|High Priest]], or possibly a revolt whose nature was lost to time after being crushed.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Hengel |first=Martin |title=Judaism and Hellenism. 1 |date=1974 |publisher=SCM Press |isbn=978-0-334-00788-3 |edition=1st engl. |location=London}}</ref> In 175 BCE, Antiochus IV invaded Judea at the request of the sons of Tobias.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.01.0148:book=1:section=31&redirect=true|title=''The Wars of the Jews'' i. 31|last=Josephus|first=Flavius|access-date=6 October 2018}}</ref> The [[Tobiads]], who led the [[Hellenistic Judaism|Hellenizing Jewish faction]] in Jerusalem, were expelled to Syria around 170 BCE when the high priest [[Menelaus (High Priest)|Onias]] and his pro-Egyptian faction wrested control from them. The exiled Tobiads lobbied Antiochus IV Epiphanes to recapture Jerusalem. As Flavius Josephus relates:
{{blockquote|The king being thereto disposed beforehand, complied with them, and came upon the Jews with a great army, and took their city by force, and slew a great multitude of those that favored Ptolemy, and sent out his soldiers to plunder them without mercy. He also spoiled the temple, and put a stop to the constant practice of offering a daily sacrifice of expiation for three years and six months.|source=''[[The Jewish War]]''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_yxlDizrauwC&q=%22The+king+being+thereto+disposed+beforehand%22&pg=PA238|title=The Works of Flavius Josephus|first=Flavius|last=Josephus|date=1825|via=Google Books}}</ref>}}

=== Traditional view ===
{{main|Miracle of the cruse of oil}}
When the [[Second Temple]] in Jerusalem was looted and services stopped, [[Judaism]] was outlawed. In 167 BCE, [[Antiochus IV Epiphanes|Antiochus]] ordered an altar to [[Zeus]] erected in the Temple. He banned [[brit milah]] (circumcision) and ordered pigs to be sacrificed at the altar of the temple.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.01.0148:book=1:section=34|title=''The Wars of the Jews'' i. 34|last=Josephus|first=Flavius|access-date=6 October 2018}}</ref>

Antiochus's actions provoked a large-scale [[Maccabean Revolt|revolt]]. [[Mattathias]] (Mattityahu), a [[Kohen|Jewish priest]], and his five sons [[Johanan Maccabeus|Jochanan]], [[Simon Maccabaeus|Simeon]], [[Eleazar Maccabeus|Eleazar]], [[Jonathan Maccabaeus|Jonathan]], and [[Judas Maccabeus|Judah]] led a rebellion against Antiochus. It started with Mattathias killing first a Jew who wanted to comply with Antiochus's order to sacrifice to Zeus, and then a Greek official who was to enforce the government's behest (1 Mac. 2, 24–25<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.earlyjewishwritings.com/text/1maccabees.html|title=1 Maccabees|website=EarlyJewishWritings.com|access-date=6 October 2018}}</ref>). Judah became known as Yehuda HaMakabi ("Judah the Hammer"). By 166 BCE, Mattathias had died, and Judah took his place as leader. By 164 BCE, the Jewish revolt against the Seleucid monarchy was successful. The Temple was liberated and rededicated. The festival of Hanukkah was instituted to celebrate this event.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hope.edu/academic/religion/bandstra/BIBLE/1MA/1MA4.HTM#59|title=1 Macc. iv. 59|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040627184847/http://www.hope.edu/academic/religion/bandstra/BIBLE/1MA/1MA4.HTM|archive-date=27 June 2004}}</ref> Judah ordered the Temple to be cleansed, a new altar to be built in place of the polluted one and new holy vessels to be made.<ref name=JewishEncyclopedia/> According to the Talmud,<blockquote>"For when the Greeks entered the Sanctuary, they defiled all the oils therein, and when the Hasmonean dynasty prevailed against and defeated them, they made search and found only one cruse of oil which lay with the seal of the [[High Priest (Judaism)|kohen gadol]] (high priest), but which contained sufficient [oil] for one day's lighting only; yet a miracle was wrought therein, and they lit [the lamp] therewith for eight days. The following year these [days] were appointed a Festival with [the recital of] Hallel and thanksgiving."
—Shabbat 21b
</blockquote>

Tertiary sources in the Jewish tradition make reference to this account.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.chabad.org/holidays/chanukah/article_cdo/aid/605855/jewish/Alls-Well-When-it-Ends.htm|title=All's Well – When it Ends|last=Epstein|first=Baruch|access-date=6 October 2018|website=Chabad.org}}</ref>

[[Maimonides]] (12th century) described Hanukkah as follows:
<blockquote>
When, on the twenty-fifth of Kislev, the Jews had emerged victorious over their foes and destroyed them, they re-entered the Temple where they found only one jar of pure oil, enough to be lit for only a single day; yet they used it for lighting the required set of lamps for eight days, until they managed to press olives and produce pure oil. Because of this, the sages of that generation ruled that the eight days beginning with the twenty-fifth of Kislev should be observed as days of rejoicing and praising the Lord. Lamps are lit in the evening over the doors of the homes, on each of the eight nights, so as to display the miracle. These days are called Hanukkah, when it is forbidden to lament or to fast, just as it is on the days of Purim. Lighting the lamps during the eight days of Hanukkah is a religious duty imposed by the sages.<ref>[[Mishneh Torah]], {{cite web| url = https://www.sefaria.org/Mishneh_Torah%2C_Scroll_of_Esther_and_Hanukkah.3.2?lang=bi| title = Hilchot Megilot v Hanukkah 3:2–3}}</ref>
</blockquote>

=== Academic sources ===
Some modern scholars, following the account in 2 Maccabees, observe that the king was intervening in an internal [[civil war]] between the Maccabean Jews and the [[Hellenistic Judaism|Hellenized Jews]] in Jerusalem.<ref>{{cite book|title= Jewish Literacy: The Most Important Things to Know about the Jewish Religion, Its People, and Its History|last= Telushkin|first= Joseph|year= 1991|publisher= W. Morrow|isbn= 978-0-688-08506-3|page= [https://archive.org/details/jewishliteracy00telu/page/114 114]|url= https://archive.org/details/jewishliteracy00telu/page/114}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title= Religions of the Ancient World: A Guide|last=Johnston |first=Sarah Iles |year=2004 |publisher=[[Harvard University Press]] |isbn=978-0-674-01517-3 |page= 186}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title= The Jewish Way: Living the Holidays|last= Greenberg|first= Irving|year= 1993|publisher= Simon & Schuster|isbn= 978-0-671-87303-5|page= [https://archive.org/details/jewishwaylivingh00gree/page/29 29]|url= https://archive.org/details/jewishwaylivingh00gree/page/29}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=Judaism and the Gentile Faiths: Comparative Studies in Religion |last=Schultz |first=Joseph P. |year= 1981|publisher=[[Fairleigh Dickinson University Press]] |isbn= 978-0-8386-1707-6|page= 155|quote=Modern scholarship on the other hand considers the Maccabean revolt less as an uprising against foreign oppression than as a civil war between the orthodox and reformist parties in the Jewish camp}}</ref> These competed violently over who would be the High Priest, with traditionalists with Hebrew/Aramaic names like [[Onias III|Onias]] contesting with Hellenizing High Priests with Greek names like [[Jason (high priest)|Jason]] and [[Menelaus (High Priest)|Menelaus]].<ref>{{cite book |title= A Survey of the New Testament|last=Gundry |first=Robert H. |year=2003 |publisher=[[Zondervan]] |isbn= 978-0-310-23825-6|page= 9}}</ref> In particular, Jason's Hellenistic reforms would prove to be a decisive factor leading to eventual conflict within the ranks of Judaism.<ref>{{cite book |title= Judaic Religion in the Second Temple Period: Belief and Practice from the Exile to Yavneh|url= https://archive.org/details/judaicreligionse00grab|url-access= limited|last= Grabbe|first=Lester L. |year= 2000|publisher=[[Routledge]] |isbn=978-0-415-21250-2 |page= [https://archive.org/details/judaicreligionse00grab/page/n79 59]}}</ref> Other authors point to possible socioeconomic reasons in addition to the religious reasons behind the civil war.<ref>{{cite book |title=Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible |last=Freedman |first=David Noel |author2=Allen C. Myers |author3=Astrid B. Beck |year=2000 |publisher=Wm.B. [[Eerdmans Publishing]] |isbn=978-0-8028-2400-4 |page=[https://archive.org/details/eerdmansdictiona0000unse/page/837 837] |url=https://archive.org/details/eerdmansdictiona0000unse/page/837 }}</ref>

[[Image:Israel 10 Agorot 1985 Edge, Obverse & Reverse.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Modern Israeli 10 agorot coin, reproducing the menorah image from a coin issued by [[Antigonus II Mattathias|Mattathias Antigonus]]]]
What began in many respects as a civil war escalated when the Hellenistic kingdom of Syria sided with the Hellenizing Jews in their conflict with the traditionalists.<ref>{{cite book |title=A Survey of Israel's History |last=Wood |first=Leon James |year= 1986|publisher= Zondervan|isbn= 978-0-310-34770-5|page=357}}</ref> As the conflict escalated, Antiochus took the side of the Hellenizers by prohibiting the religious practices the traditionalists had rallied around. This may explain why the king, in a total departure from Seleucid practice in all other places and times, banned a traditional religion.<ref>{{cite book |title=Hellenistic Civilization and the Jews |last=Tcherikover |first=Victor |year= 1999|orig-year=1959|publisher=Baker Academic |isbn= 978-0-8010-4785-5}}</ref>

The miracle of the oil is widely regarded as a legend and its authenticity has been questioned since the Middle Ages.<ref>{{cite book |title=Encyclopaedia Judaica, Volume 8 |editor1=Fred Skolnik |editor2=Michael Berenbaum |year=2007 |publisher=Granite Hill Publishers |page=332}}</ref> However, given the famous question [[Joseph Karo]] (1488–1575) posed concerning why Hanukkah is celebrated for eight days when the miracle was only for seven days (since there was enough oil for one day),<ref>{{cite web|url=https://chicagotorah.org/why-eight-days/|title=Why Eight Days?|last=Frankiel|first=Rabbi Yaakov|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171213014310/https://chicagotorah.org/why-eight-days/|archive-date=13 December 2017|access-date=6 October 2018}}</ref> it was clear that writing in the 16th century CE, he believed it to be a historical event. This belief has been adopted by most of [[Orthodox Judaism]], in as much as Karo's ''[[Shulchan Aruch]]'' is a main code of Jewish Law. 

=== Timeline ===
{{Further|Second Temple period}}
[[File:Judea Simon Makk.PNG|thumb|[[Hasmonean Kingdom]], 143 BCE]]
[[File:'קברות המכבים'.jpg|thumb|Tombs of the Maccabees, [[Modi'in]], Israel]]
* 198 BCE: Armies of the Seleucid King [[Antiochus III]] (Antiochus the Great) oust [[Ptolemy V Epiphanes|Ptolemy V]] from [[Judea]] and [[Samaria]].<ref name="auto"/>
* 175 BCE: [[Antiochus IV]] (Epiphanes) ascends the Seleucid throne.<ref>M. Zambelli, "L'ascesa al trono di Antioco IV Epifane di Siria," ''[[Rivista di Filologia e di Istruzione Classica]]'' 38 (1960) 363–389</ref>
* 168 BCE: Under the reign of Antiochus IV, the [[second Temple]] is looted, Jews are massacred, and [[Judaism]] is outlawed.<ref>{{cite book|title=Daniel: A Commentary|last1=Newsom|first1=Carol Ann|last2=Breed|first2=Brennan W.|year=2014|isbn=978-0-664-22080-8|publisher=Presbyterian Publish Corp.|page=26}}</ref>
* 167 BCE: Antiochus orders an altar to [[Zeus]] erected in the Temple. [[Mattathias]] and his five sons John, [[Simon Maccabeus|Simon]], [[Eleazar Maccabeus|Eleazar]], [[Jonathan Apphus|Jonathan]], and [[Judas Maccabeus|Judah]] lead [[Maccabean Revolt|a rebellion]] against Antiochus. Judah becomes known as Judah Maccabee ("Judah the Hammer").
* 166 BCE: Mattathias dies, and Judah takes his place as leader. The [[Hasmonean dynasty|Hasmonean Jewish Kingdom]] begins; It lasts until 63 BCE.
* 164 BCE: The Jewish revolt against the [[Seleucid]] monarchy is successful in recapturing the Temple, which is liberated and rededicated (Hanukkah).
* 142 BCE: Re-establishment of the [[Second Temple period|Second Jewish Commonwealth]]. The Seleucids recognize Jewish autonomy. The Seleucid kings have a formal overlordship, which the Hasmoneans acknowledge. This inaugurates a period of population growth and religious, cultural and social development. This includes the conquest of the areas now covered by [[Transjordan (region)|Transjordan]], [[Samaria]], [[Galilee]], and [[Idumea]] (also known as [[Edom]]), and the forced conversion of Idumeans to the Jewish religion, including circumcision.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.ccel.org/j/josephus/works/ant-13.htm| title = Josephus, ''Ant.'' xiii, 9:1., via}}</ref>
* 139 BCE: The [[Roman Senate]] recognizes Jewish autonomy.<ref>{{Bibleverse|1|Maccabees|8:17–20|NRSV}}</ref>
* 134 BCE: [[Antiochus VII Sidetes]] besieges [[Jerusalem]]. The Jews under [[John Hyrcanus]] become Seleucid vassals but retain religious autonomy.<ref>{{cite web|title=Antiochus VII Sidetes |url=http://virtualreligion.net/iho/antiochus_7.html |last=Smith |first=Mahlon H.|access-date=6 October 2018}}</ref>
* 129 BCE: Antiochus VII dies.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia|url=http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/1592-antiochus-vii-sidetes |title=Antiochus VII., Sidetes |last=Ginzburg |first=Louis |encyclopedia=[[Jewish Encyclopedia]] |year=1901|access-date=6 October 2018}}</ref> The [[Hasmonean]] Jewish Kingdom throws off Syrian rule completely.
* 96 BCE: Beginning of an eight-year civil war between [[Sadducee]] king [[Alexander Yanai]] and the [[Pharisees]].<ref>Ginzberg, Louis. {{cite web|title=Alexander Jannæus (Jonathan)|url=http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/1144-alexander-jannaeus-jonathan|access-date=6 October 2018}} ''Jewish Encyclopedia''.</ref>
* 85–82 BCE: Consolidation of the Kingdom in territory east of the [[Jordan River]].<ref>Ginzberg, Louis. {{cite web|title=Alexander Jannæus (Jonathan)|url=http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/1144-alexander-jannaeus-jonathan|access-date=6 October 2018|quote=His three years' war east of the Jordan (about 85–82) was successful; and he conquered Pella, Dium, Gerasa, Gaulana, Seleucia, and the strong fortress Gamala.}} ''Jewish Encyclopedia''.</ref>
* 63 BCE: The Hasmonean Jewish Kingdom comes to an end because of a rivalry between the brothers [[Aristobulus II]] and [[Hyrcanus II]], both of whom appeal to the [[Roman Republic]] to intervene and settle the power struggle on their behalf. The Roman general [[Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus]] (Pompey the Great) is dispatched to the area. Twelve thousand Jews are massacred in the Roman [[Siege of Jerusalem (63 BCE)|Siege of Jerusalem]]. The Priests of the Temple are struck down at the Altar. Rome annexes Judea.<ref>[[#Josephus|Josephus]], [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0146%3Abook%3D14%3Awhiston%20chapter%3D4%3Awhiston%20section%3D4 ''Antiquities of the Jews'' 14:70–71]</ref>

=== Battles of the Maccabean Revolt ===
{{Main|Maccabean Revolt}}
[[File:Knesset Menorah P5200009 Mac.JPG|thumb|upright|[[Maccabees]] on the [[Knesset Menorah]]]]
Selected battles between the Maccabees and the Seleucid Syrian-Greeks:
* [[Battle with Apollonius]] and [[Battle of Beth Horon (166 BCE)|Battle with Seron]]: [[Judas Maccabeus]] defeats two smaller Seleucid detachments.
* [[Battle of Emmaus]]: Judas Maccabeus performs a daring night march to make a surprise attack on the Seleucid camp while the Seleucid forces are split.
* [[Battle of Beth Zur]]: Judas Maccabeus defeats the army of [[Lysias (Syrian chancellor)|Lysias]], and captures Jerusalem soon after. Lysias relents and repeals Antiochus IV's anti-Jewish decrees.
* [[Battle of Beth Zechariah]]: The Seleucids defeat the Maccabees. [[Eleazar Avaran]], another of Mattathias's sons, is killed in battle by a war elephant. 
* [[Battle of Adasa]]: Judas defeats the forces of Nicanor after killing him early in the battle.
* [[Battle of Elasa]]: Judas dies in battle against the army of [[Bacchides (general)|Bacchides]]. He is succeeded by his brother [[Jonathan Apphus]], and eventually their other brother [[Simon Thassi]], as leader of the rebellion. The Seleucids re-establish control of the cities for 8 years, but eventually make deals with the Maccabees and appoint their leaders as official Seleucid governors and generals in a vassal-like status before eventual independence.

=== Characters and heroes ===
{{Main|Maccabees}}
[[File:Peter Paul Rubens and workshop 002.jpg|thumb|upright|''The Triumph of [[Judas Maccabeus]]'', [[Rubens]], 1634–1636]]
* [[Mattathias|Matityahu the Priest]], also referred to as Mattathias and Mattathias ben Johanan. Matityahu was a Jewish priest who, together with his five sons, played a central role in the story of Hanukkah.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.khouse.org/articles/2012/1091/print/ |title=Happy Hanukkah |last=Missler |first=Dr. Chuck |quote=Mattathias and his five sons became the nucleus of a growing band of rebels against Antiochus.|access-date=6 October 2018}}</ref>
* [[Judas Maccabeus|Judah the Maccabee]], also referred to as Judas Maccabeus and Y'hudhah HaMakabi. Judah was the eldest son of Matityahu and is acclaimed as one of the greatest warriors in Jewish history alongside [[Joshua]], [[Gideon]], and [[David]].<ref>{{cite book |title=God's Intertestamental Silence: Then Came Jesus Christ |author=Saundra L. Washington |page=14 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RKXsEwSPefcC&pg=PT14|isbn=978-1-4523-9735-1|year=2010|publisher=Saundra L Washington }}</ref>
* [[Eleazar Avaran|Eleazar the Maccabee]], also referred to as Eleazar Avaran, Eleazar Maccabeus and Eleazar Hachorani/Choran.
* [[Simon Thassi|Simon the Maccabee]], also referred to as Simon Maccabeus and Simon Thassi.
* [[John Gaddi|Johanan the Maccabee]], also referred to as Johanan Maccabeus and John Gaddi.
* [[Jonathan Apphus|Jonathan the Maccabee]], also referred to as Jonathan Apphus.
* [[Antiochus IV Epiphanes]]. Seleucid king controlling the region during this period.
* [[Book of Judith|Judith]]. Acclaimed for her heroism in the assassination of [[Holofernes]].<ref name="women">{{cite web |url=https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/women-as-role-models/ |title=On Hanukkah, Women As Role Models |quote=Also in the Apocrypha is the Book of Judith, which tells how this heroine stopped the siege of Jerusalem by decapitating Holofernes, a major military leader for the enemy.|access-date=6 October 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://jwa.org/discover/throughtheyear/december/judith |title=December: Judith and the Hanukkah Story |quote=For several centuries there was another hero associated with Hanukkah: Judith.|access-date=6 October 2018}}</ref>
* [[Woman with seven sons|Hannah and her seven sons]]. Arrested, tortured and killed one by one, by [[Antiochus IV Epiphanes]] for refusing to bow to an idol.<ref>{{cite book |title=Christmas and Hanukkah |last=Dice |first=Elizabeth A. |isbn=978-1-4381-1971-7 |publisher=Infobase Publishing |year=2009 |page=24}}</ref>