Feast of the Dedication Encyclopedia

The Feast of the Dedication.

The “Feast of the Dedication” also called the “Feast of Lights” occurred in the winter (John 10:22). It was not one of the feasts of Jehovah, but it began in the times of the Maccabees. After Antiochus Epiphanies desecrated the temple, it remained in a defiled condition for 2300 days (Daniel 8:14). This period was brought to a close partly by the force and courage of the Maccabees. The temple was once more cleansed, and the Jewish worship resumed. When they went to light the menorah in the Temple, only one flask of holy oil was found, which was enough to burn for one day, yet it burned for eight days! This was accomplished in the winter time. Jews worldwide to this day celebrate “Hanukkah” (“dedication”) for eight days, usually in December. This feast, along with the "Days of Purim" (Est. 9) are two man-made feasts that the Jews had, different than the seven feasts of Jehovah. Evidently the Lord went along with man-made feasts, but never commended them.