Another question is where did they “bring in new vessels from?” Did they have them made? Did Judah send a detachment or a regiment of soldiers to Antioch to re-capture the temple furniture and bring them back to Jerusalem? We know that Antioch was the headquarters of Antiochus and he probably took the golden temple furniture to Antioch. That is a possibility.
Judah and his men went to work and made the temple like new again, re-lit the menorah, and made a “feast of dedication” for 8 days, just like in the days of Solomon, when he dedicated the first temple for eight days. Judah offered sacrifices on the newly built brazen altar just like Solomon did. This also happened on the same day, 25th of Kislev, 164 B.C. three years after it had been desecrated.
Some believe that there was just one clay flask or jar of oil left in the temple. The belief is that this flask of oil was only enough for one day of light, but it lasted for eight days. The problem with this is that it was never written down in history that it actually happened. It is believed that it was just a made-up story. Now could it have happened? Sure, anything is possible. However, if a clay jar of oil had been found in the temple after the desecration by Antiochus, what with all the swine sacrifices, blood, etc.… anything in clay jars would have been considered “tamei” (unclean) and unfit for temple use!
Today, we still celebrate this time of year. Many people have a special 9 branch menorah called a “Hanukkah”. This is used especially for this time. The middle branch is called the “Shamash” (the helper) from this middle branch which holds and candle or oil with a wick, the other candles are lit each night for 8 nights. As Messianic Jewish believers, we see the symbolism in the middle branch as “Yeshua” who is the “Light of the World” and we are the “little lights” we get our light from Messiah Yeshua. He even said, “Ye are the light of the world.
We can see 9 aspects of the faith in each of the 9 branches of the special Hanukkah menorah; “Teshuvah” (repentance) “Tzedakah” (charity and giving) “Mitzvot” (good works) “Emunah” (faith) “Yeshua” (Salvation)
“Mishpochah” (family) “Ahavah” (love) “HaTorah” (God's Word) “Israel” (the Holy Land) are all inter-related
and we can also add “Chen” (faith) because by “faith” we are saved, not of works lest any man should boast.
Many also “spin the dreidel” which is a four-sided top, with the letters N, G, H, S, (but in Hebrew) which symbolize, “Nez, Gadol, Haya, Sham,” (A great miracle happened there). What was the miracle? That a small army of about 10,000 men fought against a superior army of 100,000 or more, yet not through the might of swords and spears, but through the might and power of YHVH, they won and achieved victory.
These 4 letters when added up in gematria, = 358, the word “Mashiach” (Messiah) also adds up to the sum of 358. Mashiach gave the victory. He also gives us the victory in our lives against sin. We can think of “Dedication” at this time of year to re-dedicate our lives to Messiah Yeshua, to serve him, and keep on serving him, and to be “lights” in dark places. Our work and service in Messiah Yeshua end on earth when we are called home, and even in heaven, we will continue to serve, and see His LIGHT forever.
Families celebrate Hanukkah in different forms. They get together, like many people get together during the Christmas season, they share their love, make potato latkes (fried potatoes with flour and egg mixture) play games (with the dreidel) give small gifts, many times food gifts; packets or boxes of imported teas or coffees, chocolates,
The most important is lighting the special 9-branched Menorah or “Hanukkiah” They come in all sizes and forms, some traditional, others abstract. One creative way of having the “9-lights” is purchasing 8 small jars of fragrance candles and 1 large jar. The jars can have different fragrance spices, like pumpkin spice, vanilla, almond butter, etc. These are 3 inches tall by 2 inches wide. Then the middle jar is larger, it measures 5 ½ inches tall by 3 inches wide (around). The middle jar is lit as the “Shamash” the (Helper) and each night, the jars on each side are lit.
The first night is the shamash and the end jar-candle, the second night, the middle jar-candle and two more, etc. This creates the lights of Hanukkah and a lovely fragrance in the living room. We also have an electric menorah in the window.
The last point I would like to share is the word “Hanukkah” in means “dedication”. It comes from the Hebrew letters which are “Chet” “Nun” and “Kaf” in English, we would see “Ch” “n” and “k”
The base word in Hebrew is “Chanakh” which has the meaning of “to initiate, discipline, dedicate, train up, and habituate. From this verb comes the noun “Hanukkah” In the ancient Hebrew symbolism, the Paleo-Hebrew letters symbolize “The fence gives an anointed life” or “The fence of life that brings anointing” The “Fence” being the Torah and the “Living Torah” which is Yeshua, They “surround” us and give us protection from the ways of the world.
How do we apply “Chanakh” and “Hanukkah” in our lives today? Since the temple in Jerusalem is no more, our own bodies are now the “Temple of the Holy Spirit”. At this time of year, we might look inwardly and re-dedicate ourselves to the LORD, by disciplining ourselves in Torah study, doing Mitzvoth (good works) training up others to study and understand God’s Word, and putting it into action. Make Torah study a “habit” (habituate) every day in our lives.
We shouldn’t have to wait for Hanukkah to re-dedicate our lives to Adonai, we should do this every waking morning of every day, but this is the time we should really look at our lives with a fine tooth comb, because the enemy “HaSatan” is the Antiochus who wants to see us defeated, yet Yeshua has won the war. Baruch HaShem!!
By Ben AbrahamView attachment 12075
Judah and his men went to work and made the temple like new again, re-lit the menorah, and made a “feast of dedication” for 8 days, just like in the days of Solomon, when he dedicated the first temple for eight days. Judah offered sacrifices on the newly built brazen altar just like Solomon did. This also happened on the same day, 25th of Kislev, 164 B.C. three years after it had been desecrated.
Some believe that there was just one clay flask or jar of oil left in the temple. The belief is that this flask of oil was only enough for one day of light, but it lasted for eight days. The problem with this is that it was never written down in history that it actually happened. It is believed that it was just a made-up story. Now could it have happened? Sure, anything is possible. However, if a clay jar of oil had been found in the temple after the desecration by Antiochus, what with all the swine sacrifices, blood, etc.… anything in clay jars would have been considered “tamei” (unclean) and unfit for temple use!
Today, we still celebrate this time of year. Many people have a special 9 branch menorah called a “Hanukkah”. This is used especially for this time. The middle branch is called the “Shamash” (the helper) from this middle branch which holds and candle or oil with a wick, the other candles are lit each night for 8 nights. As Messianic Jewish believers, we see the symbolism in the middle branch as “Yeshua” who is the “Light of the World” and we are the “little lights” we get our light from Messiah Yeshua. He even said, “Ye are the light of the world.
We can see 9 aspects of the faith in each of the 9 branches of the special Hanukkah menorah; “Teshuvah” (repentance) “Tzedakah” (charity and giving) “Mitzvot” (good works) “Emunah” (faith) “Yeshua” (Salvation)
“Mishpochah” (family) “Ahavah” (love) “HaTorah” (God's Word) “Israel” (the Holy Land) are all inter-related
and we can also add “Chen” (faith) because by “faith” we are saved, not of works lest any man should boast.
Many also “spin the dreidel” which is a four-sided top, with the letters N, G, H, S, (but in Hebrew) which symbolize, “Nez, Gadol, Haya, Sham,” (A great miracle happened there). What was the miracle? That a small army of about 10,000 men fought against a superior army of 100,000 or more, yet not through the might of swords and spears, but through the might and power of YHVH, they won and achieved victory.
These 4 letters when added up in gematria, = 358, the word “Mashiach” (Messiah) also adds up to the sum of 358. Mashiach gave the victory. He also gives us the victory in our lives against sin. We can think of “Dedication” at this time of year to re-dedicate our lives to Messiah Yeshua, to serve him, and keep on serving him, and to be “lights” in dark places. Our work and service in Messiah Yeshua end on earth when we are called home, and even in heaven, we will continue to serve, and see His LIGHT forever.
Families celebrate Hanukkah in different forms. They get together, like many people get together during the Christmas season, they share their love, make potato latkes (fried potatoes with flour and egg mixture) play games (with the dreidel) give small gifts, many times food gifts; packets or boxes of imported teas or coffees, chocolates,
The most important is lighting the special 9-branched Menorah or “Hanukkiah” They come in all sizes and forms, some traditional, others abstract. One creative way of having the “9-lights” is purchasing 8 small jars of fragrance candles and 1 large jar. The jars can have different fragrance spices, like pumpkin spice, vanilla, almond butter, etc. These are 3 inches tall by 2 inches wide. Then the middle jar is larger, it measures 5 ½ inches tall by 3 inches wide (around). The middle jar is lit as the “Shamash” the (Helper) and each night, the jars on each side are lit.
The first night is the shamash and the end jar-candle, the second night, the middle jar-candle and two more, etc. This creates the lights of Hanukkah and a lovely fragrance in the living room. We also have an electric menorah in the window.
The last point I would like to share is the word “Hanukkah” in means “dedication”. It comes from the Hebrew letters which are “Chet” “Nun” and “Kaf” in English, we would see “Ch” “n” and “k”
The base word in Hebrew is “Chanakh” which has the meaning of “to initiate, discipline, dedicate, train up, and habituate. From this verb comes the noun “Hanukkah” In the ancient Hebrew symbolism, the Paleo-Hebrew letters symbolize “The fence gives an anointed life” or “The fence of life that brings anointing” The “Fence” being the Torah and the “Living Torah” which is Yeshua, They “surround” us and give us protection from the ways of the world.
How do we apply “Chanakh” and “Hanukkah” in our lives today? Since the temple in Jerusalem is no more, our own bodies are now the “Temple of the Holy Spirit”. At this time of year, we might look inwardly and re-dedicate ourselves to the LORD, by disciplining ourselves in Torah study, doing Mitzvoth (good works) training up others to study and understand God’s Word, and putting it into action. Make Torah study a “habit” (habituate) every day in our lives.
We shouldn’t have to wait for Hanukkah to re-dedicate our lives to Adonai, we should do this every waking morning of every day, but this is the time we should really look at our lives with a fine tooth comb, because the enemy “HaSatan” is the Antiochus who wants to see us defeated, yet Yeshua has won the war. Baruch HaShem!!
By Ben AbrahamView attachment 12075
