Topical Encyclopedia
The Feast of Dedication, also known as Hanukkah, is a Jewish festival commemorating the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem during the second century B.C. after its desecration by the Seleucid king Antiochus IV Epiphanes. This event is not directly mentioned in the Old Testament but is referenced in the New Testament in the Gospel of John: "At that time the Feast of Dedication took place in Jerusalem. It was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple courts in Solomon’s Colonnade" (
John 10:22-23).
The historical background of the Feast of Dedication is found in the books of 1 and 2 Maccabees, which, while not part of the Protestant canon, provide valuable historical context. The Maccabean Revolt, led by Judas Maccabeus, resulted in the recapture and purification of the Temple. The festival lasts for eight days, beginning on the 25th of Kislev according to the Hebrew calendar, which typically falls in December.
The Feast of Dedication is marked by the lighting of the menorah, a nine-branched candelabrum, symbolizing the miracle of the oil. According to tradition, when the Temple was rededicated, there was only enough consecrated oil to keep the menorah's candles burning for one day, but miraculously, the oil lasted for eight days, until new oil could be prepared.
In the New Testament, Jesus' presence at the Feast of Dedication signifies His acknowledgment of the festival's importance. The feast serves as a backdrop for Jesus' teachings about His identity and mission, as He declares, "I and the Father are one" (
John 10:30), emphasizing His divine nature and unity with God the Father.
Feast of TabernaclesThe Feast of Tabernacles, also known as Sukkot or the Feast of Booths, is one of the three major pilgrimage festivals in the Jewish calendar, alongside Passover and Pentecost. It is celebrated from the 15th to the 22nd of Tishrei, which usually falls in late September to October. The feast is instituted in the Torah, where God commands the Israelites: "On the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when you have gathered in the produce of the land, you are to celebrate a feast to the LORD for seven days. The first day is to be a Sabbath rest, and the eighth day is also to be a Sabbath rest" (
Leviticus 23:39).
The Feast of Tabernacles commemorates the Israelites' 40 years of wandering in the wilderness, living in temporary shelters as they journeyed to the Promised Land. During this time, God provided for their needs and dwelt among them. To remember this, Jewish families construct sukkot, temporary booths or huts, and dwell in them during the festival.
The feast is also an agricultural celebration, marking the end of the harvest season. It is a time of great joy and thanksgiving for God's provision. The Bible describes the feast as a time to "rejoice before the LORD your God for seven days" (
Leviticus 23:40).
In the New Testament, the Feast of Tabernacles holds significant Christological implications. Jesus attended the feast, as recorded in the Gospel of John: "But when His brothers had gone up to the feast, then He also went up, not publicly, but in secret" (
John 7:10). During the feast, Jesus proclaimed, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. Whoever believes in Me, as the Scripture has said: ‘Streams of living water will flow from within him’" (
John 7:37-38). This declaration highlights Jesus as the source of spiritual sustenance and fulfillment, drawing a parallel to God's provision for Israel in the wilderness.
The Feast of Tabernacles, with its themes of divine provision, protection, and presence, points to the ultimate fulfillment in Christ, who "became flesh and made His dwelling among us" (
John 1:14), embodying the true tabernacle of God with humanity.