THE WORD "HANUKKAH" AND THE JEWISH HISTORY
Without question, modern Jews have purposely brought in
"christmas-like" traditions. Some readily admit this and also
admit it is to appease their children who are "deprived" of the
trappings of Xmas. The exchanging of gifts is one such custom.
But is Chanukah, a day on which Jesus made a public visit to the
Temple, designed to honor the sun? Just how far off can some
people get?
The Hebrew word Chanukah means 'dedication'. With its root and
cognates, this word appears more than a dozen times in the Hebrew
Text. A few examples follow.
Psalm 30:1
"A Psalm and Song at the dedication (Chanukah) of the house of
David. I will extol thee, O LORD; for thou hast lifted me up, and
hast not made my foes to rejoice over me."
This psalm was written for the Chanukah (dedication) of the house
of David.
Num 7:11
"For the LORD said to Moses, "They shall offer their offering,
one leader each day, for the dedication (la Chanukah) of the
altar."
Here God uses the word la Chanukah (the dedication).
2 Chron 7:9
"And on the eighth day they held a sacred assembly, for they
observed the dedication (Chanukah) of the altar seven days, and
the feast seven days."
Here is a seven day Chanukah.
The word Chanukah is also used in Num 7:10, 7:84, 7:88, and in
Neh 12:27 twice.
The root word 'chanak' is used 5 times mostly translated
'dedicate' or 'dedicated'.
2 Chron 7:5 and 1 Kings 8:63.
"King Solomon offered a sacrifice of twenty-two thousand bulls
and one hundred and twenty thousand sheep. So the king and all
the people dedicated (chanak) the *house of God*.
Chanak is used twice in Deut 20:5.
Now notice Pro 22:6.
"Train (chanok) up a child in the way he should go, and when he
is old he will not depart from it".
Strong's lists this as 'chanak' but the Hebrew script is slightly
different. It obviously is a variation of the word which Strong
didn't recognize as significantly different. The meaning seems to
be to "dedicate one to the straight path".
Clearly Chanukah and Chanak are biblical words reflecting a Godly
approved procedure.
But how did the Jews select the date for their secular dedication
called Chanukah? God certainly had a hand in making the
selection.
Notice Haggai 2:10
"On the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, in the second year
of Darius, the word of the LORD came by Haggai the prophet,
saying,"
[This would be Kislev 24] Notice God chose the time, not Haggai.
Now verse 18.
"*Consider now from this day forward*, from the twenty-fourth day
of the ninth month, from the day that the **foundation of the
Lord's temple** was laid; **consider it**:"
This was the foundation of the second temple after the return of
Judah from captivity. The Jews mark this time as December 13th,
Kislev 24th, 519 BCE.
When the Maccabees reclaimed the temple from Antiochus Epiphanies
in 165 BCE with a rag-tag, ill trained, and out numbered fighting
force, this is the time they purposely choose to rededicate the
temple. This is also the date (Kislev 24/25) of Chanukah every
year. Some Jewish calendars list Kislev 25 and some Kislev 24.
[Two Jews, three opinions, as the joke goes].
So is Chanukah just another "festival of lights"? Hardly!
Although it has been polluted almost beyond recognition, it has
ties to the Word of God. It has nothing to do with the winter
solstice, nothing to do with Saturnalia, nothing to do with
anything "pagan" in its original implementation. This is why
Jesus was willing to be present at the temple at this time. Those
who attach pagan overtones to this biblical-grounded celebration
are misguided.
Should this celebration be observed by Christians? Probably not.
It is virtually without much significance today. It is a relic of
the past. Even many Jews acknowledge this as a minor holiday not
commanded by God. Many even lament the pollution it has suffered.
It has little meaning to Christians. On the other hand, I see
nothing wrong with an ethnic Jew keeping this day.
Anyway, now you know, the rest of the story.
Bob G
