Kislev 25 – The Abomination of Desecration – The Story of Hanukkah

December 25, 2024

09 – Kislev, 1 Maccabees, 5785_09_Kislev, Israel

Kislev 25, 5785; from sunset December 25, 2024, to sunset December 26, 2024

(The twenty-fifth day of the ninth month)

Ten days ago, on the fifteenth day of Kislev, in the one hundred and forty-fifth year, Antiochus Epiphanes and his men erected an idol upon the altar of burnt offering in the Holy Temple. Today, on Kislev 25, they began sacrificing swine upon it. He commanded the Jews to put aside the commandments of God and obey him (as their “god”) instead. Even though their lives were threatened, many refused the orders of Antiochus and continued to observe the commandments of the LORD. Many were killed because of their decision to stay loyal to the God of Israel.

And on the twenty-fifth day of the month they offered sacrifice on the altar which was upon the altar of burnt offering.

According to the decree, they put to death the women who had their children circumcised, and their families and those who circumcised them; and they hung the infants from their mothers’ necks.

But many in Israel stood firm and were resolved in their hearts not to eat unclean food. They chose to die rather than to be defiled by food or to profane the holy covenant; and they did die.

And very great wrath came upon Israel. – 1 Maccabees 1:59-64 (RSV)

In the 145th year the altar was defiled by swine on this day. The dating system (i.e. 145th year) refers to the reign of the Seleucid dynasty. They began using this dating system sometime after the death of Alexander the Great. The Maccabees later founded the Hasmonean dynasty, which ruled from about 140 BCE to 37 BCE, being a fully independent kingdom from about 110 to 63 BCE – at which point they began a new numbering system for the years.

So, in the 145th year, the altar in the Holy Temple was defiled. Three years later, in the 148th year, after running the army of Antiochus out of Jerusalem, Judah Maccabee and his men finished cleansing the Temple. Join us tomorrow when we’ll rise early in the morning (US Central Time Zone), just like the Maccabees did, and remember their “chanach” (dedication) of the Holy Temple.

Hanukkah – Day 1

To see all of our posts revolving around the history of the Maccabees, just click on the image above.