© Copyright Double Portion Inheritance, August 2002-2023
Every year during the season of Chanukkah, we encounter a plethora of well-meaning Hebraic Roots teachers who try and convince the newbies (and uninformed people) that Chanukkah is somehow pagan, or a false tradition of men that bears no scriptural support. I was one of the ignorant ones, who at one time who fell for this lie (when I was new to obeying the Towrah).
However, in the year 2002 (after the events of 9/11), I embarked on a life-changing study, which conclusively revealed that our Messiah was born on the Feast of Trumpets (not on Sukkot), and that he was conceived on Chanukkah, exactly 271 days earlier. It was the revelation of a Chanukkah conception for our Messiah, that caused me to realize that it could not possibly be something pagan or man-made. To see all the evidence I uncovered, please read my other blogs:
My research on the birth and conception of Yahuwshuwa Ha’Mashiyach continued for 22 more years, right up until the present time, which is 2023 as I am writing this blog. After doing my own investigation, I came to realize that Satan must be pretty upset about the eight-day miracle of the oil that took place following the events of the Maccabean Revolt in 167-164 B.C.
What other reason could the devil possibly have for maligning this miracle other than to delegitimize the true miracle of our Messiah’s conception in the womb, as foretold by the prophet Haggai in 2:18-20. I had previously been taught by well-meaning Hebraic Roots teachers that the “Eight-Day Miracle of the Oil” was simply a myth that it could not be substantiated in the book of Maccabees.
Although many have previously thought that this 8-day miracle of the oil is just a man-made Jewish tradition, historically we can find sufficient evidence to conclude that it actually did occur. While I do not view the Jewish Talmud as equal in authority to the inspired scriptures, I do regard the Jewish Talmud as reliable for historical record.
One such historical account is called “The Forty-Day Yom Kippur Miracle,” which shows clear evidence for the judgements that ensued upon Jerusalem, following our Messiah’s crucifixion on Passover in 30 A.D., and continuing until the Roman Siege in 70 A.D. To learn more about this historical account in the Talmud, see my other blog: Jacob’s Time of Trouble & Daniel’s 70th Week
It is the historical accuracy of the Forty-Year Yom Kippur anomaly that causes me to also believe in the legitimacy of “The Eight-Day Miracle of the Oil.”
Answering Concerns about the Jewish Talmud
Many of us are well-aware of the fact that Judaism has added many vain traditions, for which even our Messiah pointed out.
Mattityahuw (Matthew) 15:9 But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
Marqos (Mark) 7:7 Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
In Matthew 23, our Messiah commands us to “Observe all that the Scribes & Pharisees command us to do,” but only when they are sitting in the seat of Moses. In other words, whenever what they command us to do is in agreement with the Laws of Moses, that is the only time we should listen to them. For a thorough explanation of the Seat of Moses, see this website: Synagogue Moses’ Seat
Nehemiah Gordon explained in one of his teachings entitled “The Greek Jesus vs the Hebrew Yeshua,” that the Hebrew translation of Matthew 23:3 should read as follows: “....The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat: All therefore whatsoever HE bids you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not.”
Pictured here is a reconstruction of “The Seat of Moses” found at an archaeological dig: The Seat of Moses Found at Archaeological Dig
In other words, whenever they are functioning in the office of Moses, and commanding us to obey the Towrah & Prophets, that is the only time that we should listen to what they say. In the remaining verses of Matthew 23, he describes in fine detail their hypocrisy, and their adding of heavy burdens on the people, thus making Judaism too stringent to adhere to.
Mattithyahuw (Matthew) 23:
4 For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men’ s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.
5 But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments,
6 And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues,
7 And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi.
8 But be not you called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Messiah; and all you are brethren.
9 And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.
10 Neither be you called masters: for one is your Master, even Messiah.
11 But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.
12 And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.
13 But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for you neither go in yourselves, neither suffer you them that are entering to go in.
14 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for you devour widows' houses, and for a pretense make long prayers: therefore you shall receive the greater damnation.
15 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for you compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, you make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.
16 Woe unto you, you blind guides, which say, Whosoever shall swear by the temple, it is nothing; but whosoever shall swear by the gold of the temple, he is a debtor!
17 You fools and blind: for which is greater, the gold, or the temple that sanctifies the gold?
18 And, Whosoever shall swear by the altar, it is nothing; but whosoever swears by the gift that is upon it, he is guilty.
19 You fools and blind: for which is greater, the gift, or the altar that sanctifies the gift?
20 Whoso therefore shall swear by the altar, swears by it, and by all things thereon.
21 And whoso shall swear by the temple, swears by it, and by him that dwells therein.
22 And he that shall swear by heaven, swears by the throne of Elohiym, and by him that sits thereon.
23 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought you to have done, and not to leave the other undone.
24 You blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel.
25 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for you make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess.
26 You blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.
27 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for you are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness.
28 Even so you also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within you are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.
29 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because you build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchres of the righteous,
30 And say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.
31 Wherefore you be witnesses unto yourselves, that you are the children of them which killed the prophets.
32 Fill you up then the measure of your fathers.
33 You serpents, you generation of vipers, how can you escape the damnation of hell?
34 Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them you shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city:
35 That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharyahuw (Zachariah), son of Barachiah, whom you slew between the temple and the altar.
36 Verily I say unto you, All these things shall come upon this generation.
37 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you that kill the prophets, and stone them which are sent unto you, how often would I have gathered your children together, even as a hen gathers her chickens under her wings, and you would not!
38 Behold, your house is left unto you desolate.
39 For I say unto you, You shall not see me henceforth, till you shall say, Blessed is he that comes in the name of YaHuWaH.
Despite all the rebuke that our Messiah had for the religious leaders of his day, he also quoted from the Talmud in many of his parables, and therefore he was not 100% against the Oral Traditions. He only rebuked the ones that were diametrically opposed to the Towrah & Prophets.
YaHuWaH often reminds me that he has ordained that the Yahuwdiym (Jews) would be given the “scepter” or authority to rule over the other tribes (Genesis 49:10).
In Romans 3:1-2, the Apostle Shaul (Paul) wrote that “Unto the Yahuwdiym/Jews have been entrusted with the contents of the oracles of Elohiym.”
The word “oracles” means “The contents of the Towrah.” Now, I do not mean to suggest that we should adhere to the vain traditions that Judaism often devises, because our Messiah often rebuked the religious leaders of his day for adding and subtracting from Towrah (Deuteronomy 4:2 & Proverbs 30:6).
The Jewish Talmud, we must recognize that the Talmud is a collection of commentaries by hundreds of rabbis, sages and scribes over thousands of years. We cannot possibly believe that every single one of them were evil!
It’s only logical to recognize that “SOME” ideas in the Talmud are bad, but there are many other things that are useful and good. Even Nicodemus & Joseph of Arimathea were righteous Pharisees, and they were followers of our Messiah, Yahuwshuwa.
Our Messiah also quoted from the Talmud when he taught many of his parables. The Parable of Lazarus & the Rich man (Luke 16:19-31), is just one of things our Messiah taught out of the Talmud. When it comes to the Talmud, we must do what our Messiah did, which is to “Chew on the meat and spit out the bones.”
Here is an example shown to me by a Messianic Jewish brother on Facebook:
“Yeshua was an Orthodox Jew, and as-such, he embraced the Oral Torah like His contemporaries quoting Talmudic wisdom.
Talmud - Sotah 49b שׂוֹטָה
“And the wisdom of scribes will putrid & people who fear sin will be held in disgust, and the truth will be absent.
The youth will shame the face of elders, elders will stand before minors. Normal family relations will be ruined:
A son will disgrace a father; a daughter will rise up against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law (referenced in Luke 12:52-53).
A man’s enemies will be the members of his household (referenced in Matthew 10:36).
The face of the generation will be like the face of a dog; a son will no longer be ashamed before his father.
And upon what is there for us to rely? Only upon our Father in heaven.”
Luqas (Luke) 12:51 Suppose you that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division:
Luqas (Luke) 12:52 For from henceforth there shall be five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three.
Luqas (Luke)12:53 The father shall be divided against the son, and the son against the father; the mother against the daughter, and the daughter against the mother; the mother in law against her daughter in law, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.
Mattithyahuw (Matthew) 10:36 And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household.
The idea that 100% of the Talmud is bad, is a false notion that has been peddled lately by those who think that “All Jews are the Synagogue of Satan!” It’s not realistic to think that “NONE” of the Yahuwdiym (Jews) were righteous.
Why would YaHuWaH say in Genesis 49:10 “The Scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh comes?”
Why would our Messiah tell the woman at the well in John 4:22 “Salvation is of the Yahuwdiym (Jews)?”
Why would Paul write in Romans 3:1-2 that “Unto the Yahuwdiym/Jews have been entrusted with the Oracles of Elohiym?”
If absolutely “NONE” of the Yahuwdiym (Jews) can be trusted, why did Yah entrust them with the scepter (authority) to rule over the other tribes?
And why did he trust the Kingdom of Yahuwdah (Judah) with the contents of the Towrah?
None of that makes sense, now does it?
The bottom-line is, we must “Test all things” to see if it is aligns with the Towrah & Prophets. That is the litmus test that our Messiah gave us to follow.
Luqas (Luke) 24:44 And he said unto them, These are the words which I spoke unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the Towrah (law) of Mosheh, and in the Prophets, and in the Psalms, concerning me.
The Eight-Day Miracle of the Oil
Once I realized that our Messiah was conceived on Chanukkah, I began to see other patterns for the number “8” throughout the entire counsel of scripture.
As an example, the Towrah commands that the dedication (chanukkah) of the altar and the Temple should last for seven days, and by the eighth day, it is dedicated.
The number “8” prophetically points us to “The eighth millennium” from creation, which is described in Revelation 21:1-27 as at time in the future when the New Yerushalayim (Jerusalem) will come down out of heaven in Revelation 21:1-27.
In 2nd Peter 3:8, we read that “One day is like a thousand years with YaHuWaH,” therefore, we can look to the future “eighth millennium” from creation. As a macrocosm to “The eighth day of Sukkot,” the 8th millennium is when “The first heaven and the first earth shall pass away”, and “The new heaven and the new earth,” will come down here.
The name “Chanowk” (Enoch) means “initiation, new beginnings, circumcision,” and it is from this name that we derive the word “Chanukkah.”
#2597 chanukka’ chan-ook-kaw’ (Aramaic) corresponding to 2598; consecration:--dedication.
#2598 chanukkah khan-ook-kaw’ from 2596; initiation, i.e. consecration:--dedicating(-tion).
Even the name “Enoch” in Hebrew comes from the same root word and means the same thing:
#2585 Chanowk khan-oke’ from 2596; initiated; Chanok, an antediluvian patriarch:--Enoch.
Yahuwshuwa ha’Mashiyach’s body will then become the Temple , according to Revelation 21:22. Therefore, a baby boy is circumcized to YaHuWaH on the eighth day.
We can also see the number eight representing “salvation,” because on only eight people were saved on Noah’s Ark.
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1st Keefa (Peter) 3:20 Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of Elohiym waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.
2nd Keefa (Peter) 2:5 And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly;
Why did Keefa (Peter) called Noah “The eighth person?” It is because Noah went into the ark last, as he allowed his family to go in first. In other words, Noah was demonstrating the true heart of a servant by becoming “The least” among his family of eight people.
Noah being the “eighth person” symbolically means that YaHuWaH was putting an end to the defiled population of the earth, as he was “re-dedicating” the earth with water baptism and cleansing it.
We find in the Towrah that whenever the altar became defiled, in order to “re-dedicate” the Temple altar, it must remain unclean for seven days before it could be cleansed and re-dedicated.
The Temple & Altar are Cleansed for Seven Days & Dedicated on the Eighth Day
Shemoth (Exodus) 29:
35 And thus shall you do unto Aaron, and to his sons, according to all things which I have commanded you: seven days shall you consecrate them.
36 And you shall offer every day a bullock for a sin offering for atonement: and you shall cleanse the altar, when you have made an atonement for it, and you shall anoint it, to sanctify it.
37 Seven days you shall make an atonement for the altar, and sanctify it; and it shall be an altar most holy: whatsoever touches the altar shall be holy.
Yechezqel (Ezekiel) 43:
22 And on the second day you shall offer a kid of the goats without blemish for a sin offering; and they shall cleanse the altar, as they did cleanse it with the bullock.
23 When you have made an end of cleansing it, you shall offer a young bullock without blemish, and a ram out of the flock without blemish.
24 And you shall offer them before YHWH, and the priests shall cast salt upon them, and they shall offer them up for a burnt offering unto YHWH.
25 Seven days shall you prepare every day a goat for a sin offering: they shall also prepare a young bullock, and a ram out of the flock, without blemish.
26 Seven days shall they purge the altar and purify it; and they shall consecrate themselves.
27 And when these days are expired, it shall be, that upon THE EIGHTH DAY, and so forward, the priests shall make your burnt offerings upon the altar, and your peace offerings; and I will accept you, saith YHWH Elohiym.
2nd Chronicles 7:9 And in THE EIGHTH DAY they made a solemn assembly: for they kept the DEDICATION [CHANUKKAH] of the altar seven days, and the feast seven days.
In 2nd Kings 5:10-14, the prophet Elisha told the Syrian Naaman to wash himself seven times in the Jordan River, and after the seventh time, his leprosy would be healed. In other words, after the seventh time of washing in the Jordan River, this brought him to a new beginning, which is the eighth time he would have ascended out of the water!
The prophet Elisha obviously knew what the Towrah said concerning the Law of the Leper, and that he would be unclean for the first seven times of descending into the water. Naaman dipped himself seven times (once for each time the priest sprinkles the leper in Leviticus 14), but by the eighth day he was cleansed!
Wayyiqra (Leviticus) 14:
1 And YHWH spoke unto Mosheh, saying,
2 This shall be the Towrah (law) of the leper in the day of his cleansing: He shall be brought unto the priest:
3 And the priest shall go forth out of the camp; and the priest shall look, and, behold, if the plague of leprosy be healed in the leper;
4 Then shall the priest command to take for him that is to be cleansed two birds alive and clean, and cedar wood, and scarlet, and hyssop:
5 And the priest shall command that one of the birds be killed in an earthen vessel over running water:
6 As for the living bird, he shall take it, and the cedar wood, and the scarlet, and the hyssop, and shall DIP them and the living bird in the blood of the bird that was killed over the running water:
7 And he shall SPRINKLE upon him that is to be CLEANSED from the leprosy SEVEN TIMES, and shall pronounce him CLEAN, and shall let the living bird loose into the open field.
8 And he that is to be CLEANSED shall wash his clothes, and shave off all his hair, and wash himself in water, that he may be clean: and after that he shall come into the camp, and shall tarry abroad out of his tent SEVEN DAYS.
9 But it shall be ON THE SEVENTH DAY, that he shall shave all his hair off his head and his beard and his eyebrows, even all his hair he shall shave off: and he shall wash his clothes, also he shall wash his flesh in water, and he shall be CLEAN.
10 And ON THE EIGHTH DAY he shall take two he lambs without blemish, and one ewe lamb of the first year without blemish, and three tenth deals of fine flour for a meat offering, mingled with oil, and one log of oil.
11 And the priest that make him CLEAN shall present the man that is to be made CLEAN, and those things, before YHWH, at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation:
Seven Days of Sukkot Followed by the Eighth Day
In Leviticus 23:33-44, we are instructed to dwell for SEVEN DAYS in a tent or a sukkah, but on the EIGHTH DAY, we cease to dwell in temporary shelters. This is because the SEVEN DAYS are a microcosm of the SEVEN THOUSAND YEARS from creation, which leads up to the EIGHTH MILLENNIUM.
YaHuWaH ordained that Sukkoth was belated until the 24th day of the 9th month (Haggai 2:18-20), following the Maccabean Revolt in 164 B.C. This event was a precursor to the second coming of our Messiah, during which, he will make war against the beast and his army, and thus, Jerusalem will remain unclean until the 1,335 days following the Abomination of Desolation being erected (see Daniel 12:11-12).
Throughout “The Seventh Millennium” (during Messiah’s 1,000-year reign on earth), it will be a macrocosm to the first seven days of the Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkoth). At the end of the seventh millennium, Satan will be released from the bottomless pit, and there will be a war with Gog & Magog again, before the devil, the beast and the false prophet will be cast into the Lake of Fire (Revelation 20:2-10).
After the 1,000-year reign of Messiah on earth is finished, the first heaven and the first earth will pass away, and this is when “The Eighth Millennium,” will begin, taking us into eternity.
This will be the commencement of “The New Heaven & Earth,” (Revelation 21:1-2) as well as the permanent Temple, which will be “The Lamb & YaHuWaH Almighty” (Revelation 21:22).
*Disclaimer: I, Maria Merola do not hold the Talmud as being inspired like the scriptures, but I do believe we can glean historic facts from the Talmud. Concerning this historical fact about the 8-day miracle of the oil found in the Talmud, I believe we can find enough evidence in Towrah to validate that this miracle did indeed take place, as you will soon discover.
The Chanukkah Miracle: A flask with one night’s oil burned for 8 nights. But being that there was oil for one night, the miracle actually lasted only 7 nights. So why does Chanukkah last for 8 nights?
Here are 8 approaches to answer this question:
They divided one night’s oil into eight portions. Miraculously, each portion lasted an entire night. ---Beit Yosef, Orach Chaim 670
The Greeks ransacked the Temple many days in search of oil to defile. Despite their strength and numbers, they overlooked one flask. A few weak, battle-weary Jews found it immediately. ---HaMeiri in Lehodos U’lehallel; Sefer HaEshkol, Chanukah 6:13
Wanting the oil to last, they made the wicks one-eighth of the normal thickness. Nevertheless, the flames burned just as brightly as if the wicks had been the normal thickness. ---Chidushei HaRim
The golden menorah was ritually impure. So were all the Jewish soldiers, having come in contact with death on the battlefield. Therefore, they were forced to make a temporary earthenware menorah, because earthenware is more resistant to impurity. But earthenware is porous, and when it is new, it absorbs a small but significant part of any oil put in it. Therefore, one night’s oil for a gold menorah was not sufficient for an earthenware menorah because some of the oil is lost to absorption. ---Bava Metzia 40a & Maharsha Chullin 55
In one account, the text reads “And there wasn’t enough (oil) in it to burn even one day...” ---Sheiltos DeRav Achai Gaon, Parshas Vayishlach found in footnote to Megillas Antiochucus in Siddur Otzar Hatefilos
Seven days commemorate the miracle of the oil, and one day commemorates the miracle that a few weak Jewish soldiers defeated the mighty Greek legions.--Kedushas Levi
Chanukkah occurred in the year 3622 (139 BCE). Calendar calculations and other historical sources indicate that the 25th of Kislev, the first day of Chanukkah, fell on Shabbat that year. Therefore, they needed to light the menorah before sunset Friday night, and consequently needed a little more than a night’s-worth of oil.---Atzei Zayis
The commandment to light the menorah with pure oil is written in the Towrah (Leviticus, chapters 23 and 24) immediately after the commandment to observe the Succoth festival for 8 days (7 days of Succoth followed by Shemini Atzeres). The Sages saw this as a divine hint that Chanukkah should be for 8 days. ----Bnei Yisaschar in the name of the Rokeach.
Research based on Sefer Ner Lemeah, Rabbi Yerachmiel Zeltzer.
Apparently the historical record shows that the House of Judah were unable to keep the Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkoth) in the seventh month the year when Judah Maccabees took back the temple for YaHuWaH, because the temple had been defiled by Antiochus.
When the temple was re-dedicated two months later, the House of Judah kept a belated Feast of Tabernacles. This was by no means an accident, as we will soon learn that YaHuWaH intended for this belated celebration to land on the very same day that was prophesied about by the prophet Haggai in connection with the incarnation and conception of the true Messiah!
When the Second Temple in Jerusalem was looted and services stopped, Judaism was outlawed. In 167 BCE Antiochus ordered an altar to Zeus erected in the Temple. He banned circumcision and ordered pigs to be sacrificed at the altar of the Temple.
Antiochus’s actions provoked a large-scale revolt. Mattityahuw, a Jewish priest, and his five sons Jochanan, Simeon, Eleazar, Jonathan, and Judah led a rebellion against Antiochus. Judah became known as Yahuwdah (Judah) HaMakabi or “Judah the Hammer.” By 166 BCE Mattathias had died, and Judah took his place as leader. By 165 BCE the Jewish revolt against the Seleucid monarchy was successful.
The Temple was liberated and re-dedicated. The festival of Chanukkah was instituted to celebrate this event. Judah ordered the Temple to be cleansed, a new altar to be built in place of the polluted one and new holy vessels to be made. According to the Talmud, olive oil was needed for the menorah in the Temple, which was required to burn throughout the night every night. The story goes that there was only enough oil to burn for one day, yet it burned for eight days, the time needed to prepare a fresh supply of oil for the menorah. An eight day festival was declared by the Jewish sages to commemorate this miracle.
The version of the story in 1st Maccabees states that an eight-day celebration of songs and sacrifices was proclaimed upon re-dedication of the altar, and makes no mention of the miracle of the oil. A number of historians believe that the reason for the eight-day celebration was that the first Chanukkah was a belated celebration of Sukkoth and “Shemini Atzeret” or “The Eighth Day.”
During the war, the Jews were not able to celebrate the these festivals, when lamps were lit in the Temple (Suk.v. 2–4).
The version of the story in 1st Maccabees states that an eight-day celebration of songs and sacrifices was proclaimed upon re-dedication of the altar, and makes no mention of the miracle of the oil. A number of historians believe that the reason for the eight-day celebration was that the first Chanukkah was a belated celebration of Sukkoth and “Shemini Atzeret” or “The Eighth Day.”
During the war, the Jews were not able to celebrate the these festivals, when lamps were lit in the Temple (Suk.v. 2–4).
The Miracle of the Oil and the Remnant
By James Scott Trimm
From the book: Channukah and the Last Days
A major part of the Channukah story is the miracle of the oil. In fact, when the Hasmonian dynasty fell out of favor, celebration of Channukah shifted in theme from the military victory itself, to the miracle of the oil. The miracle of the oil is not actually mentioned in the books of the Maccabees however the Talmud does recount it:
Talmud: b. Shabbat 21b
What is the reason for Channukah? For our Rabbis taught: On
the 25th of Kislev begin the days of Channukah, which are
eight, during which lamentation for the dead and fasting are
forbidden. For when the Greeks entered the Temple, they
defiled all the oils in it, and when the Hasmonean dynasty
prevailed against and defeated them, they [the Maccabees]
searched and found only one cruse of oil which possessed the
seal of the High Priest, but which contained sufficient oil for
only one day’s lighting; yet a miracle occurred there and they
lit [the lamp] for eight days. The following year these days
were appointed a Festival with the recitation of Hallel and
thanksgiving.
It was also recounted in the Megillat Antiochus (c. 200 CE):
Megillat Antiochus
The Hasmoneans entered the Sanctuary, rebuilt the gates,
closed the breaches, and cleansed the Temple court from the
slain and the impurities. They looked for pure olive oil to light
the Menorah, and found only one bottle with the seal of the
Kohen Gadol so that they were sure of its purity. Though its
quantity seemed sufficient only for one day’s lighting, it lasted
for eight days owing to the blessing of the Elohim of heaven
who had established His Name there. Hence, the Hasmoneans
and all the Jews alike instituted these eight days as a time of
feasting and rejoicing, like any festival prescribed in the Torah,
and of kindling lights to commemorate the victories Elohim
had given them.
There has been some controversy concerning the miracle of the oil. Some say that it was a later innovation, since it is not mentioned in either 1st of 2nd Maccabees. I am convinced that the miracle of the oil did take place for three reasons:
1. It is implied in 2nd Maccabees (we will cover this below).
2. It is recorded in other early sources, such as the Megillat Antiochus.
3. It fits the Last Days prophetic imagery too well for that relationship to be coincidental.
While none of the books of the Maccabees mention this miracle, there are hints of it found in 2nd Maccabees (which is written on the REMEZ level).
2nd Maccabees opens with two letters. The first is a letter to the Jews in Egypt (2nd Maccabees 1:1-9) and the second is more specifically to Aristobulus and to the Jews in Egypt (2nd Maccabees 1:10-2:18). The purpose of these letters, is to explain to the Jews in Egypt why they should keep the eight-day Channukah Festival, despite the fact that it is not one of the feasts prescribed in the Torah. The letter begins with events concerning Nehemiah and works it’s way backwards to the time of Moses.
The letter encourages the Egyptians to “Celebrate the feast of tabernacles and the feast of fire” which he says “Was given when Nehemiah, who built the Temple and the altar, offered sacrifices” (2nd Maccabees 1:18).
What is “The feast of fire?” Is it a reference to the original feast of Tabernacles or to Channukah which originated as a belated feast of Tabernacles. The text is unclear.
The letter goes on to explain the original “miracle of the oil” which took place in association with the dedication of the Second Temple built by Nehemiah:
2nd Maccabees. 1:19-36
19: For when our fathers were led into Persia, the priests that
were then devout took the fire of the altar privily, and hid it in
an hollow place of a pit without water, where they kept it sure,
so that the place was unknown to all men.
20: Now after many years, when it pleased Elohiym, Nehemiah,
being sent from the king of Persia, did send of the posterity of
those priests that had hid it to the fire: but when they told us
they found no fire, but thick water;
21: Then commanded he them to draw it up, and to bring it;
and when the sacrifices were laid on, Nehemiah commanded
the priests to sprinkle the wood and the things laid thereupon
with the water.
22: When this was done, and the time came that the sun shone,
which afore was hid in the cloud, there was a great fire kindled,
so that every man marvelled.
23: And the priests made a prayer whilst the sacrifice was
consuming, I say, both the priests, and all the rest, Jonathan
beginning, and the rest answering thereunto, as Nehemiah did.
24: And the prayer was after this manner; O YHWH, YHWH Elohiym,
Creator of all things, who art fearful and strong, and righteous,
and merciful, and the only and gracious King,
25: The only giver of all things, the only just, almighty, and
everlasting, thou that deliverest Israel from all trouble, and
didst choose the fathers, and sanctify them:
26: Receive the sacrifice for thy whole people Israel, and
preserve thine own portion, and sanctify it.
27: Gather those together that are scattered from us, deliver
them that serve among the heathen, look upon them that are
despised and abhorred, and let the heathen know that thou art
our Elohiym.
28: Punish them that oppress us, and with pride do us wrong.
29: Plant thy people again in thy holy place, as Moses hath
spoken.
30: And the priests sung psalms of thanksgiving.
31: Now when the sacrifice was consumed, Nehemiah
commanded the water that was left to be poured on the great
stones.
32: When this was done, there was kindled a flame: but it was
consumed by the light that shined from the altar.
33: So when this matter was known, it was told the king of
Persia, that in the place, where the priests that were led away
had hid the fire, there appeared water, and that Nehemiah had
purified the sacrifices therewith.
34: Then the king, inclosing the place, made it holy, after he
had tried the matter.
35: And the king took many gifts, and bestowed thereof on
those whom he would gratify.
36: And Nehemiah called this thing Naphthar, which is as
much as to say, a cleansing: but many men call it Naphta
The account is unclear as to whether these events took place at a Sukkoth (Tabernacles) or on the 25th of Chislev. The author probably assumes that his audience is familiar with this account and knows which was the case.
If it took place on a Sukkoth, it might explain how Sukkoth has become the original “festival of lights,” a characteristic that transferred to Channukah. Sukkoth was known as the “Festival of Light” and at this feast the entire city of Jerusalem was filled with light from giant 75 feet tall menorahs. (m. Sukkah 5:2–4; b. Sukkah 52b).
This author’s intent was to justify the observance of Channukah through this account, which certainly implies that Channukah also involved a similar “miracle of the oil.” The letter goes on to recount another apocryphal event, in which Jeremiah also took some of this “fire” (which by implication, would also have taken the form of the miraculous thick liquid (oil) “nephthar” along with certain Temple artifacts including the Ark of the Covenant, hiding them up in a cave in Mount Moab:
2nd Maccabees 2:1-8a
1: It is also found in the records, that Jeremy the prophet
commanded them that were carried away to take of the fire, as
it hath been signified:
2: And how that the prophet, having given them the law,
charged them not to forget the commandments of YHWH, and
that they should not err in their minds, when they see images of
silver and gold, with their ornaments.
3: And with other such speeches exhorted he them, that the law
should not depart from their hearts.
4: It was also contained in the same writing, that the prophet,
being warned of Elohiym, commanded the tabernacle and the ark to
go with him, as he went forth into the mountain, where Moses
climbed up, and saw the heritage of Elohiym.
5: And when Jeremiah came thither, he found an hollow cave,
wherein he laid the tabernacle, and the ark, and the altar of
incense, and so stopped the door.
6: And some of those that followed him came to mark the way,
but they could not find it.
7: Which when Jeremiah perceived, he blamed them, saying,
As for that place, it shall be unknown until the time that Elohiym
gather his people again together, and receive them unto mercy.
8: Then shall YHWH shew them these things, and the glory of
8: Then shall YHWH shew them these things, and the glory of
the Lord shall appear, and the cloud also, as it was shewed
under Moses,…
The Author of 2nd Maccabees is telling us that on the last day when Messiah returns there will be a great miracle, the pillar of cloud will return and indicate the hidden position of the Ark of the Covenant, the Temple artifacts and the “Naphthar,” the oil that will miraculously restore the fire of the altar for the Millennial Temple. The letter goes on to recount Solomon’s dedication of the First Temple, and how the original fire of the altar of the First Temple was also a great miracle:
The Author of 2nd Maccabees is telling us that on the last day when Messiah returns there will be a great miracle, the pillar of cloud will return and indicate the hidden position of the Ark of the Covenant, the Temple artifacts and the “Naphthar,” the oil that will miraculously restore the fire of the altar for the Millennial Temple. The letter goes on to recount Solomon’s dedication of the First Temple, and how the original fire of the altar of the First Temple was also a great miracle:
2nd Maccabees 2:8 b-12
8b …and as when Solomon desired that the place might be
honourably sanctified.
9: It was also declared, that he being wise offered the sacrifice
of dedication, and of the finishing of the temple.
10: And as when Moses prayed unto YHWH, the fire came
down from heaven, and consumed the sacrifices: even so
prayed Solomon also, and the fire came down from heaven,
and consumed the burnt offerings.
11: And Moses said, Because the sin offering was not to be
eaten, it was consumed.
12: So Solomon kept those eight days.
This refers back to the events recorded in 2nd Chronicles :
2nd Chronicles 7:1 HRV Now when Solomon (Shlomo) had made an end of praying, the fire came down from heaven, and consumed the burnt-offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of YHWH filled the house.
This was part of the dedication of Solomon’s Temple, which took place at Sukkoth (2nd Chronicles. 7:8-10; 1st Kings 8:2).
Thus 2nd Maccabees makes the case that each Temple dedication was tied to a “miracle of fire” and to the eight-day Sukkoth celebration. It was manifested by the miracle of fire that came down from heaven at the dedication of the First Temple during Sukkoth.
It was also manifested at the dedication of the Second Temple, and the miracle of the fire from the Naphthar.
Finally, it was manifest at the re-dedication of the Second Temple with the miracle of the oil.
The miracle of the oil points to the last days in two important ways. To begin with, the finding of the oil in the Temple as the re-dedication prefigures the finding of the Naphthar as well as the Ark of the Covenant and other Temple artifacts which will bring about another “miracle of fire” at the dedication of the Millennial Temple.
There is another important way in which the miracle of the oil prefigures the Last Days. At the end of the three and one half years of the Great Tribulation, when Messiah shall cleanse His Sanctuary, he will find a remnant. Just as the oil had the seal of the Cohen HaGadol, the remnant shall also be sealed:
Revelation 7:2-4 HRV
2 And I saw another angel who ascended from the rising of the
sun, and he had the seal of the Living Eloah. And he cried
aloud with a loud voice to the four angels--those to whom it
was given to harm the earth and the sea.
3 And he said, Do not harm the earth nor the sea, not even the
trees, until we seal the servants of Eloah between their eyes.
4 And I heard the number of those sealed, one hundred and
forty-four thousand from all the tribes of Yisra’el.
This seal is the seal of the Ruach HaKodesh:
Ephesians. 1:13 HRV
Ephesians. 1:13 HRV
11 And we were chosen in Him, even as He marked us out
beforehand, and He desired: He who performs everything
according to the purpose of His will,
12 That we, those who first hoped in the Messiah, should be to
the esteem of His glory.
13 In Him also, you heard the Word of Truth, which is the
Good News of your life, and in Him, you believed and were
sealed with the Ruach HaKodesh which was promised,
14 Which is the token of our inheritance, unto the redemption
of those who have Life, and unto the glory of His honor.
In the Tanak, the olive oil of the menorah is identified as symbolic of the Ruach HaKodesh:
Zechariah 4:
1 And the angel that spoke with me returned and waked me, as
a man that is wakened out of his sleep.
2 And he said unto me: What see you? And I said, I have seen,
and behold a candlestick all of gold, with a bowl upon the top
of it, and its seven lamps thereon; there are seven pipes: yes
seven, to the lamps, which are upon the top thereof.
3 And two olive trees by it: one upon the right side of the bowl,
and the other upon the left side thereof.
4 And I answered and spoke to the angel that spoke with me,
saying, What are these, my master?
5 Then the angel that spoke with me answered and said unto
me: Know you not what these are? And I said, No, my master.
6 Then he answered and spoke unto me, saying: This is the
word of YHWH unto Z’rubavel, saying: Not by might, nor by
power: but by My spirit! says YHWH Tzva’ot.
7 Who are you, O great mountain before Z’rubavel? You shall
become a plain. And he shall bring forth the top stone with
shoutings of Grace! Grace! unto it.
8 Moreover the word of YHWH came unto me, saying:
9 The hands of Z’rubavel have laid the foundation of this
house; his hands shall also finish it: and you shall know that
YHWH Tzva’ot has sent me unto you.
10 For who has despised the day of small things? Even they,
shall see with joy the plummet in the hand of Z’rubavel--even
these seven, which are the eyes of YHWH, that run to and fro
through the whole earth.
11 Then answered I, and said unto him, What are these two
olive trees upon the right side of the candlestick, and upon the
left side thereof?
12 And I answered the second time, and said unto him, What
are these two olive branches, which are beside the two golden
spouts, that empty the golden oil out of themselves?
13 And he answered me and said: Know you not what these
are? And I said, No, my master.
14 Then said he: These are the two anointed ones, that stand by
the Adon of the whole earth.
Note the parallel here between these two “olive trees” and the two “olive tree” witnesses who witness during the forty-two months of the Great Tribulation:
Revelation 11:1-4 HRV
1 And a reed was given to me like a rod, and the angel stood
and said, Arise and measure the Temple of Eloah, and the altar,
and those who worship in it:
2 Yet the court within the Temple, leave out, and do not
measure it, because it is given to the Goyim, and they will
trample down the Set-Apart city, forty-two months.
3 And I will give my two witnesses [authority] to prophesy,
one thousand two hundred sixty days, being clothed with
sackcloth.
4 These are two olive trees and two lampstands, that stand
before the Adon of the whole earth.
Yeshua illustrates the “oil” which the remnant will have upon their return:
Matthew 25:1-12 HRV
1 Then will the Kingdom of Heaven be comparable to ten
virgins, which took their torches, and went out to meet the
bridegroom.
2 Five of them were foolish, and five of them were prudent.
3 The five foolish, when they took the torches, took no oil with
them:
4 But the prudent took the oil in their vessels, with the torches.
5 And while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered
and slept.
6 And at midnight there was a cry, Behold! The bridegroom
has come: go out now to meet Him!
7 Then all those virgins arose, and made ready their torches.
8 And the foolish said to the prudent, Give us now of your oil,
for our torches are extinguished.
9 But the prudent answered and said to them, We may not give
you, lest there suffice not for us and you. But go now therefore
to them that sell, and buy for yourselves:
10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came. And
they that were ready, went in with Him to the marriage, and the
door was shut.
11 And after that, came the rest of the virgins, saying, My
Master, My Master: open to us!
12 But He answered, saying: Amen, I say to you, I know you
not.
Just as Judas Maccabee found a single jar of set-apart oil sealed with the seal of the Cohen HaGadol, when Messiah returns he will find a remnant sealed with the seal of the Ruach HaKodesh, filled with the Ruach HaKodesh.
*James Trimm’s article ends here and Maria’s article continues:
In keeping with the theme of the “eight-day miracle of the oil,” it is not small coincidence that scripture reveals “eight” dedications of YaHuWaH’s Temple.
There are a total of ten references for the word “dedication” in scripture, but two of these references describe the dedication of King Nebuchadnezzar’s abominable golden statue in Daniel 3:2-3.
In keeping with the theme of the “eight-day miracle of the oil,” it is not small coincidence that scripture reveals “eight” dedications of YaHuWaH’s Temple.
There are a total of ten references for the word “dedication” in scripture, but two of these references describe the dedication of King Nebuchadnezzar’s abominable golden statue in Daniel 3:2-3.
Two of these references from are from Daniel 3:2-3, and when those are removed from the equation, we end up with “8” references for the word “dedication” that are pertaining to the altar of YaHuWaH.
Eight References to Chanukkah Seen in Scripture
Eight References to Chanukkah Seen in Scripture
Bemidbar (Numbers) 7:88 And all the oxen for the sacrifice of the peace offerings were twenty and four bullocks, the rams sixty, the he goats sixty, the lambs of the first year sixty. This was the dedication [chanukkah] of the altar, after that it was anointed.
2nd Dibre ha’Yamiym (Chronicles) 7:9 And in the eighth day they made a solemn assembly: for they kept the dedication [chanukkah] of the altar seven days, and the feast seven days.
Ezra 6:16 And the children of Yisra’el, the priests, and the Levites, and the rest of the children of the captivity, kept the dedication [chanukkah] of this house of Elohiym with joy.
Ezra 6:17 And offered at the dedication [chanukkah] of this house of Elohiym an hundred bullocks, two hundred rams, four hundred lambs; and for a sin offering for all Yisra’el, twelve he goats, according to the number of the tribes of Yisra’el.
Nechemyah (Nehemiah) 12:27 And at the dedication [chanukkah] of the wall of Jerusalem they sought the Levites out of all their places, to bring them to Jerusalem, to keep the dedication with gladness, both with thanksgivings, and with singing, with cymbals, psalteries, and with harps.
Daniyel (Daniel) 3:2 Then Nebuchadnezzar the king sent to gather together the princes, the governors, and the captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counsellors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, to come to the dedication [chanukkah] of the image which Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.
Daniyel (Daniel) 3:3 Then the princes, the governors, and captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counsellors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, were gathered together unto the dedication [chanukkah] of the image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up; and they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up.
Yahuwchanon (John) 10:22 And it was at Yerushalayim (Jerusalem) the feast of the dedication [chanukkah], and it was winter.
Nine Branches or Seven Branches?
The Temple menorah found in scripture has only seven branches (Numbers 8:2), rather than the nine-branched menorah used according for Chanukkah by tradition.
I believe in celebrating Chanukkah by reading the story of the Maccabees to our children and by remembering the Yahuwdiy (Jewish) people who died because they loved the commandments of YaHuWaH and they refused to bow to a pagan idol.
I prefer using the seven-branch Temple menorah and not the nine-branch Chanukkiah invented by traditions of men. Even though I believe in using the seven-branch menorah, I can see patterns in scripture for the number “9.”
Our Messiah was conceived in the 9th month of Kislev on the Hebrew Calendar (Chanukkah) and he was born 9 months later in September on the Feast of Trumpets.
There are 9 gifts of the Holy Spirit (1st Corinthians 12:8-11) & 9 fruits of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). There were also 9 months of pregnancy for the Temple (the body) of Messiah to be completely formed in the womb. Hence, while I personally do not use the 9-branch menorah, I can see some prophetic meaning behind the number “9” in scripture.
The number “8” is the number of “new beginnings,” and it will be in the 8th millennium from creation that the new heaven & the new earth will come down (Revelation 21). It will be at this point in time that the Messiah himself will become the Temple as seen in Revelation 21:22.
Our Messiah, Yahuwshuwa will become that Temple on the “The twenty-fourth day of the ninth month” of Kislev (Chanukkah) according to the prophecy in Haggai 2:18-19. Therefore, those who speak evil against Chanukkah are inadvertently speaking evil of our Messiah and his Temple!
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