feast of dedication = “Dedication” in Hebrew is “Hanukkah”. This is the latest of the Jewish festivals and it occurs annually on the 25th of the Jewish month Chisleu, which corresponds to our late November – mid December. It was founded by Judas Maccabeus to celebrate the deliverance God gave from Antiochus Epiphanes and the purification and dedication of the Temple. “Moreover Judas and his brethren with the whole congregation of Israel ordained, that the days of the dedication of the altar should be kept in their season from year to year by the space of eight days, from the five and twentieth day of the month Casleu, with mirth and gladness.” (1st Maccabees 4:59)

Antiochus IV, king of Syria from 175 to 164 B.C., called himself “(theos) epiphanes,” which means “(god) manifested”. He loved Greek things and hated the Jewish religion and tried to destroy it completely. In 170 B.C. he attacked Jerusalem and killed 80,000 Jews and sold the same number into slavery. He abolished Judaism and killed anyone in possession of a copy of the Law. He also commanded that nobody could circumcise their children and crucified any mothers who did, with their babies hanging around their necks. He profaned the Temple as completely as he could by shedding innocent blood on its grounds, turning its chambers into brothels, and sacrificing pigs on its altar to Zeus and other gods (167 B.C.)

Then Judas Maccabaeus and his brothers arose against Antiochus and with God’s help against overwhelming odds, defeated the Syrian armies with their calvary and elephants. The following is an account from 1st Maccabees of part of that deliverance:

IV:6 But as soon as it was day, Judas shewed himself in the plain with three thousand men, who nevertheless had neither armour nor swords to their minds. 7 And they saw the camp of the heathen, that it was strong and well harnessed, and compassed round about with horsemen; and these were expert of war. 8 Then said Judas to the men that were with him, Fear ye not their multitude, neither be ye afraid of their assault. 9 Remember how our fathers were delivered in the Red sea, when Pharaoh pursued them with an army. 10 Now therefore let us cry unto heaven, if peradventure the Lord will have mercy upon us, and remember the covenant of our fathers, and destroy this host before our face this day: 11 That so all the heathen may know that there is one who delivereth and saveth Israel. 12 Then the strangers lifted up their eyes, and saw them coming over against them. 13 Wherefore they went out of the camp to battle; but they that were with Judas sounded their trumpets. 14 So they joined battle, and the heathen being discomfited fled into the plain. 15 Howbeit all the hindmost of them were slain with the sword: for they pursued them unto Gazera, and unto the plains of Idumea, and Azotus, and Jamnia, so that there were slain of them upon a three thousand men. 16 This done, Judas returned again with his host from pursuing them, 17 And said to the people, Be not greedy of the spoil inasmuch as there is a battle before us, 18 And Gorgias and his host are here by us in the mountain: but stand ye now against our enemies, and overcome them, and after this ye may boldly take the spoils. 19 As Judas was yet speaking these words, there appeared a part of them looking out of the mountain: 20 Who when they perceived that the Jews had put their host to flight and were burning the tents; for the smoke that was seen declared what was done: 21 When therefore they perceived these things, they were sore afraid, and seeing also the host of Judas in the plain ready to fight, 22 They fled every one into the land of strangers. 23 Then Judas returned to spoil the tents, where they got much gold, and silver, and blue silk, and purple of the sea, and great riches. 24 After this they went home, and sung a song of thanksgiving, and praised the Lord in heaven: because it is good, because his mercy endureth forever. 25 Thus Israel had a great deliverance that day. 26 Now all the strangers that had escaped came and told Lysias what had happened: 27 Who, when he heard thereof, was confounded and discouraged, because neither such things as he would were done unto Israel, nor such things as the king commanded him were come to pass. 28 The next year therefore following Lysias gathered together threescore thousand choice men of foot, and five thousand horsemen, that he might subdue them. 29 So they came into Idumea, and pitched their tents at Bethsura, and Judas met them with ten thousand men. 30 And when he saw that mighty army, he prayed and said, Blessed art thou, O Saviour of Israel, who didst quell the violence of the mighty man by the hand of thy servant David, and gavest the host of strangers into the hands of Jonathan the son of Saul, and his armourbearer; 31 Shut up this army in the hand of thy people Israel, and let them be confounded in their power and horsemen: 32 Make them to be of no courage, and cause the boldness of their strength to fall away, and let them quake at their destruction: 33 Cast them down with the sword of them that love thee, and let all those that know thy name praise thee with thanksgiving. 34 So they joined battle; and there were slain of the host of Lysias about five thousand men, even before them were they slain.

Judas Maccabaeus and his men then went to Jerusalem and killed the Syrians guarding the Temple. He appointed priests who had not profaned themselves to cleanse the Temple and its articles, make new holy vessels,  and to build a new altar of uncut stones. Then on the 25th day of Chisleu in 164 B.C., they dedicated the Temple and its altar, praising God for His great deliverance. The joyous occasion lasted for 8 days and was quite similar to the Feast of Tabernacles.

The feast is also called “the Festival of lights”. For the 8 days of the feast, the Temple and all of the Jewish homes were (and still are) lit by candles. This tradition comes from a legend of which Maimonides gives the following account:

when the Israelites prevailed over their enemies and destroyed them, it was on the twenty fifth of the month Chisleu; and they went into the temple and could not find any pure oil in the sanctuary, but one vial; and it was not enough to light but one day only, and they lighted lamps of it for eight days, until the olives were squeezed, and they brought forth pure oil: wherefore the wise men of that generation ordered, that those eight days beginning at the twenty fifth of Chisleu, should be days of rejoicing and praise, and they lighted lamps at the doors of their houses; every night of these eight nights, to show and make known the miracle;”

Hilchot Megilla Uchanucha, c. 3. sect. 2, 3. & 4. 1,
2. Vid. T. Bab. Sabbat, fol. 21. 2.

The feast celebrated the last great deliverance by God of His people and also spoke of His miraculous provision. Even though this feast was put in place by men, Jesus is its fulfillment. He is the great and miraculous provision that God gives for the total and eternal deliverance of His people.

The feast could be celebrated anywhere, but Jesus went to Jerusalem to observe it. It was winter, which meant that the weather was colder and hard rains were frequent.