The Eight Lights and Eight Days of Hanukkah
December 25, 2005
Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah!
The history of the Jewish Hanakkah was covered by the Jerusalem Post article in our last BLOG of December 24. This is just adding a couple of more odds and ends about it. In 2005 our Christmas Day ends six hours after the first day of Hanakkuk begins.
Christmas Day 2005 began individually for us one minute past midnight local time December 25, and six hours before it ends the first day of Hanukkah begins for Jewish households. The word “Hanukkah” means “dedication.” The “rededication” of the Temple in Jerusalem, after it was defiled by the Syrian Antiochus Epiphanes, is the occasion for the Holiday (See previous BLOG).
After a great victory over the Syrians, Judah Maccabee and his soldiers went to the Temple, and were extremely saddened to discover the great number of things that were missing or broken, including the menorah of gold.
They cleaned and repaired the Temple including the menorah.
At the time it was deemed the Temple had been cleansed of the defilement
of Antiochus, they held a great rededication ceremony. They were only able to find a small flask of holy oil dedicated for Temple service, which contained only enough oil to keep the menorah burning
for one day.
According to Jewish tradition and commentaries on the Torah by the Rabbis, the oil miraculously lasted eight days, which is the length of the days of Hanukkah. Today Jews celebrate Hanukkah for eight days by lighting candles in a menorah every night, thus commemorating the eight-day miracle.
The Hanukkah menorah is called a Hanukiyah. It has nine candle holders.
Eight of the candles are for the eight day miracle. The ninth is used to light the other eight candles each night. The ninth candle is called the Shamash.
The candles are placed in the Hanukiyah from right to left, but when they are lit, it is from left to right.
So today the Christians have many holidays, the Jews
have religious holidays galore, and the Muslims have their share as well. How I look forward to the day when the following two Scriptures are fulfilled in Zechariah. There will only be one King, and all nations will be directed to come to Jerusalem annually at the Feast of Tabernacles to worship the King of Kings, Jesus Christ!
Zechariah 14:9 – And the Lord shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one Lord, and his name one.
Zechariah 14:16 – And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year
to year to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles.
Colossians 2:9,10 – For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. [10] And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:
Matthew 28:18 – And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
Psalm 2:6,8 – Yet have I set my king upon
my holy hill of Zion. [7] I will declare the decree: the Lord hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.
[8] Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.