Dedication, Feast Of The
Dedication, Feast of the
Instituted by Judas Machabus (64 B.C.) to be celebrated yearly in all synagogues the 25th day of the month Casleu and during its octave, in commemoration of the purification of the Temple of Jerusalem , which had been polluted by Antiochus Epiphanes on that day three years previously (1 Macabees 4). It was observed with great joy, without mourning or fasting. It was on this feast that the Jews threatened to stone Our Lord (John 10).
Fuente: New Catholic Dictionary
Dedication, Feast of the
Also called the Feast of the Machabees and Feast of Lights (Josephus and Talmudic writings), mentioned in the Old Testament (1 Maccabees 4:56), and in the New (John 10:22). It was instituted by Judas Machabeus (164 B.C.) to be celebrated yearly on the 25th day of the month Kislew and during its octave, in commemoration of the purification of the temple of Jerusalem which had been polluted by Antiochus Epiphanes on that day three years previously (1 Maccabees 4:41-64; 2 Maccabees 6:2). Unlike the great Hebrew annual feasts, it could be celebrated not only in the temple at Jerusalem, but also in the synagogues of all places. It was observed with manifestations of joy such as accompanied the Feast of Tabernacles, during the celebration of which the dedication of the first temple had taken place. During the celebration of the feast mourning and fasting were not allowed to begin. The Jews assembled in the temple and synagogues bearing branches of trees and palms and singing psalms; the Hallel (Psalms 113-118) being sung every day. The joyful character of the feast was also manifested by illuminations, which may have been suggested by the “lighting of the lamps of the candlestick” when the temple service was first restored (1 Maccabees 4:50-51), or, according to very early Midrashim, by the miraculous burning throughout the first celebration of the feast of a vial of oil found in the temple. Since the first century a general illumination of Hebrew houses has been customary, every house having at least one light, and some, according to the school of the rabbis, having one light for each person in the house on the first night and twice the number on each succeeding night; others again, having eight lights the first night and a lesser number each night thereafter. Modern Hebrews keep the feast on 12 December, with strictness, but do not forbid servile work. At the daily morning prayer a different portion of Numbers 7 is read in the Synagogue.
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LIGHTFOOT, Horæ Hebraicæ (Oxford, 1859), s. v.; The Jewish Encyclopedia, s. v. Hanukkah, the Hebrew name of the feast; SCHÜRER, A Hist. of the Jewish People, etc., 2nd ed. of Eng. tr., I, 217, for complete bibliography.
ARTHUR L. MCMAHON Transcribed by Anthony J. Stokes
The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume IVCopyright © 1908 by Robert Appleton CompanyOnline Edition Copyright © 2003 by K. KnightNihil Obstat. Remy Lafort, CensorImprimatur. +John M. Farley, Archbishop of New York
Fuente: Catholic Encyclopedia
Dedication, Feast of the
(John 10:22, 42), i.e., the feast of the renewing. It was instituted B.C. 164 to commemorate the purging of the temple after its pollution by Antiochus Epiphanes (B.C. 167), and the rebuilding of the altar after the Syrian invaders had been driven out by Judas Maccabaeus. It lasted for eight days, beginning on the 25th of the month Chisleu (December), which was often a period of heavy rains (Ezra 10:9, 13). It was an occasion of much rejoicing and festivity.
But there were other dedications of the temple. (1) That of Solomon’s temple (1 Kings 8:2; 2 Chr. 5:3); (2) the dedication in the days of Hezekiah (2 Chr. 29); and (3) the dedication of the temple after the Captivity (Ezra 6:16).
Fuente: Easton’s Bible Dictionary
Dedication, Feast Of The
DEDICATION, FEAST OF THE.After the desecration of the Temple and altar by Antiochus Epiphanes, Judas Maccabus re-consecrated them in b.c. 165 on the 25th day of Chislev (December); cf. 1Ma 4:52-59, 2Ma 10:6. This event was henceforward celebrated by a feast all over the country (Joh 10:22). It lasted 8 days. There was no suspension of business or labour, and but few additions were made to the ordinary synagogue services. The special feature of the festival was the illumination of private houses, whence came its alternative namethe Feast of Lights. (There were divergent rules for these illuminations in the various schools of traditionalists.) It was an occasion for feasting and jollity: the people assembled at the synagogues, carrying branches of palms and other trees; the services were jubilant, no fast or mourning could begin during the period, and the Hallel (Psa 113:1-9; Psa 114:1-8; Psa 115:1-18; Psa 116:1-19; Psa 117:1-2; Psa 118:1-29) was chanted. The resemblances of this celebration to the Feast of Tabernacles were perhaps intentional.
A. W. F. Blunt.