Think About it -- A Lesson From the Maccabees

Dr. Henry Abramson, of the Jewish History Lab, is a Jewish history teacher. Regarding the story of Hanukkah, Dr. Abramson quips that, “like all Jewish holidays, they tried to kill us, we survived, so let’s eat.” I like his historical accuracy and humor.

One cannot research Hanukkah without researching the Maccabean era. The Hebrew people of the time (between Malachi and Jesus) had invited the Seleucid (Syrian Greek) Empire as guests into their land.

After a time as guests of Israel, the Seleucid Empire took over.

Civil unrest developed as certain Jews embraced and accepted the amoral Greek culture, while others rejected it. Accepting it meant that the desecration of the temple by the Seleucid Emperor (Antiochus IV Epiphanes) was deemed progressive. Those who rejected it felt pushed beyond honoring God.

Under the guise of Polytheism (just let everyone believe their own way as we all sing Kumbaya), the amoral influence began to show its genuine disdain for the One true God. The divide between Hellenist progressives and traditionalists was essentially along lines of population density. Those in larger cities and congested areas were primarily progressive, while those in smaller, rural areas remained traditionalists. Antiochus favored the progressives because they favored his taxes. His empire increased its wealth through the progressives.

The crisis of the Maccabean era climaxed between the years 175 and 164 B.C. Dr. Abramson labels the crisis as a civil war between progressive Jews and traditional Jews. During this time, Antiochus ransacked the temple, spilled pig’s blood throughout, and rededicated it to Zeus rather than The God of Israel. He banned the Sabbath and circumcision.

In a series of battles, Yehuda Macabi (aka Judah Maccabeus) became the warrior leader of the traditional Jews who by 164 B.C. had saved Jerusalem and rededicated the temple.

Hanukkah means “dedication.”

Think About it

It all sounds a little like present-day America.

We invited a worldly culture in. That worldly culture is taking over in Washington D.C., state capitals, and pop culture.

It is removing all articles that point to the One true God.

The divide is seen largely along lines of population density.

It funds itself through higher taxes and weakens our culture by lowering moral standards.

The division is now within our churches – a civil war of sorts among Christians. Some entire denominations are splitting because of it.

We need a re-dedication of righteousness in America.