|
Antiochus's
actions proved to be a major miscalculation as
they provoked a large-scale revolt. Mattathias,
a Jewish priest, and his five sons Jochanan, Simeon,
Eleazar, Jonathan, and Judah led a rebellion against
Antiochus. Judah became known as Yehuda HaMakabi
("Judah the Hammer"). By 166 BCE Mattathias
had died, and Judah took his place as leader.
By 165 BCE the Jewish revolt against the Seleucid
monarchy was successful. The Temple was liberated
and rededicated. The festival of Hanukkah was
instituted by Judah Maccabee and his brothers
to celebrate this event.[10] After recovering
Jerusalem and the Temple, Judah ordered the Temple
to be cleansed, a new altar to be built in place
of the polluted one and new holy vessels to be
made. According to the Talmud, olive oil was needed
for the menorah in the Temple, which was required
to burn throughout the night every night. But
there was only enough oil to burn for one day,
yet miraculously, it burned for eight days, the
time needed to prepare a fresh supply of oil for
the menorah. An eight day festival was declared
by the Jewish sages to commemorate this miracle.
Hanukkah rituals |