The prophet Daniel (in the 6th century
B.C) foresaw the rise of the Greek empire, its ultimate division into four
parts and especially pointed to the regime of Antiochus IV Epiphanes, the
Seleucid king who came to power in 175 B.C. (see Daniel 11:1-4; 21-25). It
was against this king and his vicious edicts that the Maccabean family led a
revolt during the years 167-160 B.C, with good reason. The religious
prohibitions against the Jewish population in Israel at that time were very
severe, resulting in horrendous penalties upon anyone who dared to violet those
edicts. The course of the militant rebellion was short, resulting not
only in religious freedom, but also in achieving autonomy for the Jews from the
Greek/Seleucid control. From then on the Maccabees, who were a priestly family,
took upon themselves the leadership of Judea and acted in various capacities,
but refrained from the judiciary and kingly duties (while they did sign a pact
with Rome which opened the way for the latter to begin to influence the
fledgling state). However, in the year 104 B.C. John Aristobulus I and
then his brother Alexander Jannaeus declared themselves kings, thus establishing a royal dynasty, while still holding the position of the high
priesthood, as did their successors. Things began to spiral downhill from there, resulting in a moral,
spiritual and national decline of the “kingdom”, such as we see a century later
at the time of Yeshua. Clearly the family who so miraculously won against all
odds a war with a superpower failed to uphold the very principles they had
fought for, and betrayed the people of Israel-Judea.
Although these chronicles of the
revolt are not part of Scripture, but as we saw above there was a definite
reference to what was about to transpire in Judea a couple of centuries
beforehand. Since the commemoration of the re-dedication and cleansing of
the Temple (in the year 138 B.C.) is what Hanukkah is (or should be) all about,
let us turn to another biblical text (from around 520 B.C) which is solely focused
on the Temple of Elohim and its place in the life of the people of Israel, that
is the book of the prophet Haggai. This short book has quite a few things
to say about the House of Elohim and its holiness. Moreover, as the historical
date of the Hanukkah celebration is the 25th of the 9th month
(Kislev), Haggai makes reference 3 times to the 24th of the 9th month
(all of which are on the same year, “the second year of Darius”, chapter 2:10,
18, 20) being almost 400 years before the Hanukkah events. In fact, in 2:18 he
says “Consider now from this day forward, from the twenty-fourth day of the
ninth month, from the day that the foundation of YHVH’s temple was
laid -- consider it:” (emphasis added). Haggai lived during the time
of the return to Zion, after the 70 year exile in Babylon, at which time the
second Temple was being built. That prophet was greatly concerned for the new
House of Elohim, its sound foundations and for the proper care and attitude on
the part of those who would be attending to it.
In the book that follows Haggai,
Zachariah, the same year (Darius’ 2nd) is being referred to again,
with prophecies that pertain to Jerusalem, to Zion AND, once more, to YHVH’s
House. But here it is YHVH Himself who declares His zealousness
for those places, and His word of promise concerning them:
"Proclaim, saying, 'thus says YHVH of hosts: "I am zealous for
Jerusalem and for Zion with great zeal. I am exceedingly angry with the
nations at ease; for I was a little angry, and they helped -- but with evil
intent.” Therefore thus says YHVH: ‘I am returning to Jerusalem
with mercy; My house shall be built in it,’ says YHVH of hosts, ‘and a
surveyor's line shall be stretched out over Jerusalem. Again
proclaim, saying, 'Thus says YHVH of hosts: "My cities shall again spread
out through prosperity; YHVH will again comfort Zion, and will again choose
Jerusalem’" (Zach. 1:14b-17).
A few centuries later, Yeshua
demonstrated His zealousness for the then existing House of
Elohim. Matthew 21:12-13: “Then Yeshua went into the temple of Elohim and drove
out all those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of
the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves, and He said to them,
‘It is written, “My house shall be called a house of prayer,” but you have made
it a 'den of thieves.'" He also said to the merchants: “Do not make My
Father’s House a house of merchandise” (John 2:16). “And He would
not allow anyone to carry wares through the temple” (Mark 11:16).
It was at the very same scene and
location that Yeshua also added, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will
raise it up.’ Then the Jews said, ‘It has taken forty-six years to build this
temple, and will You raise it up in three days?’ But He was speaking of
the temple of His body (John 2:19-21). “The temple of His body”!? Yes, Yeshua’s
body, given for us (see Luke 22:19). If we follow this line of thinking a step
further, Scripture also tells us that we too are the “temple of the living
Elohim”. Therefore Paul exhorts: “Do not be unequally yoked together with
unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what
communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Messiah with
Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? And what
agreement has the temple of Elohim with idols? For you are the temple
of the living Elohim, as Elohim has said: ‘I will dwell in them and walk
among them. I will be their Elohim, and they shall be My people.’
Therefore "Come out from among them and be separate,” says YHVH. Do not
touch what is unclean, and I will receive you. I will be a Father to you, and
you shall be My sons and daughters,’ says YHVH Almighty” (2 Corinthians
6:14-18 emphasis added).
We took a long journey around YHVH’s
House or Temple, but isn’t this the essence of the celebration of this time of
year? May this Hanukkah indeed be to us a feast of light as we celebrate the
One who is “the Light of the world,” and who told us that “He who follows Me
shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life" (John 8:12), and that,
like Him, we too are to be “the light of the world” (Matt. 5:14). With cleansed
temples, surely His light through us will “so shine before men, that they may
see your/our good works and glorify your/our Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16).
