1. The Story of Hanukkah: The Maccabees Fight Oppression HIGH SCHOOL HISTORY 2.10

2. Historic Placement We have been studying the history of Rome from its founding to its great fall and destruction. In this new section of history, we will come to understand Rome prior to and during the time of Christ. It will be necessary to look back in history prior to the Savior’s birth to understand the history of the Jews and it relates to the Savior’s ministry on earth. The time period we are studying today is nearly 200 years before the Savior’s birth. Previously the Israelites had been conquered by the Egyptians and then taken over by the Romans. The Israelites became Roman subjects. To maintain a degree of order, the Romans kept in place the ruling families of their conquered empires and extracted from them their money, wealth, and attempted to destroy their religious beliefs. The Maccabees were the ruling class in Israel. The Maccabees were the leaders of a Jewish rebel army that took control of Judea, which at the time had been a province of the Seleucid Empire.

3. The Influence of the Hellenistic Culture on the Jews Hellenization, or Hellenism, refers to the spread of Greek culture after the fourth century, B.C. First the conquest by Alexander brought Greek culture to the middle eastern territories. Next, Roman imperial expansion took over politically. Rome didn't immediately change but slowly combined the Greek culture with a Roman political organization and all elements of Roman and Greek city life. How would this affect Jewish life? For many Jews, it seemed not to be a problem at all. Many were comfortable giving up their old way of life for a new Greek life and way of thinking. For some it meant living in a modern city with a very mixed culture. For other people in the Jewish tradition, it was more of a problem that Herod, supposedly a Jewish king, would have been so willing to turn himself and the people over to Roman religious interests and Roman imperial ideology.

4. What is a Hellenistic Society?  The Hellenistic states were ruled by kings.  They put their wealth on display for all to see, building elaborate palaces and commissioning art, sculptures and extravagant jewelry.  They amassed as many of its riches as they could by working hard to cultivate commercial relationships to gather more wealth.  They spoke a common language. (Greek) They were all able to communicate.  Citizens who had previously been involved with the democratic city-states; were now governed by professional bureaucrats.  In Hellenistic art and literature, there was an emphasis on the individual.  Many people joined “mystery religions,” like the cults of the goddesses Isis and Fortune, which promised their followers immortality and individual wealth.  The philosopher Epicurus argued that the most important thing in life was the pursuit of the individual’s pleasure and happiness.  And the Stoics argued that every individual man had within him a divine spark that could be cultivated by living a good and noble life.

5. Who was Philo? Why is he important? Philo was an example of the intense Hellenization of Judaism. He was a philosopher and scriptural interpreter who lived in Alexandria from around 30 B.C. to around 40 AD. He tried to make a change by combining scripture and Platonic philosophy. This had an impact on Christians of a later generation who tried to make sense of Jesus and his teaching within the broader framework of Greek and Roman culture. Early Christianity engaged Hellenistic culture generally, and more specifically Greek philosophy, from the end of the first century on. Philosophical issues such as the nature of reality and the nature of God challenged Christian thinking. Some of the new philosophy had to do with issues of ethics and morality.

6. Justin Martyr Justin Martyr was an early Christian apologist. He tried to explain Christianity to the Greco-Roman world in the context of Greek-Roman thought. Justin Martyr became active in Rome around the middle of the century and explained the nature of Christ and the nature of his relationship to God in terms of certain philosophical theories. Justin taught a theology that the word of God brought into question the role of Jesus as an intermediary between God and humankind. His philosophical ideas claimed that God was distant and unlike man in any way. They became widespread and popular destroying much of Christian thought.

7. Discussion What role did Philo and Justin Martyr play in destroying Christian thought? What is the risk of giving up the religious traditions of your family? What were the Jews risking? How does the following scripture apply? Doctrine and Covenants 2:2 2 And he shall plant in the hearts of the children the promises made to the fathers, and the hearts of the children shall turn to their fathers.

8. Antiochus & the Jews Antiochus IV Epiphanes became ruler of the Seleucid Empire in 175 BC. The High Priest in Jerusalem was Onias III. To Antiochus, the High Priest was merely a local governor who could be appointed or dismissed at will, while to orthodox Jews he was divinely appointed. Antiochus pursued a zealous Hellenizing policy. He did the following to destroy the Jews. He made possession of the Torah a capital offense and burned the copies he could find. He banned many traditional Jewish religious practices: Jewish sacrifice was forbidden, Sabbaths and feasts were banned. Circumcision was outlawed, and mothers who circumcised their babies were killed along with their families. Altars to Greek gods were set up and animals prohibited to Jews were sacrificed on them. The idol of Olympian Zeus was placed on the altar of the Temple.

9. Enter the Maccabees The revolt After Antiochus issued his decrees forbidding Jewish religious practice, a rural Jewish priest sparked the revolt against the Seleucid Empire by refusing to worship the Greek gods. Mattathias killed a Hellenistic Jew who stepped forward to offer a sacrifice to an idol in his place. He and his five sons fled to the wilderness of Judah. After Mattathias' death, about one year later in 166 BCE, his son Judas Maccabee led an army of Jewish dissidents to victory. The Maccabees destroyed pagan altars in the villages, circumcised boys and forced Jews into outlawry. The term Maccabees as used to describe the Jewish army is taken from the Hebrew word for "hammer". The revolt involved many battles, in which the Maccabean forces gained notoriety. After the victory, the Maccabees entered Jerusalem in triumph and ritually cleansed the Temple, reestablishing traditional Jewish worship there and installing Jonathan Maccabee as high priest.

10. The Story of Hanukkah

11. Miracle of the Lights Now the Maccabees returned to Jerusalem to liberate it. They entered the Temple and cleared it of the idols placed there by the Syrian vandals. Judah and his followers built a new altar, which he dedicated on the twenty-fifth of the month of Kislev, in the year 3622. Since the golden Menorah had been stolen by the Syrians, the Maccabees now made one of cheaper metal. When they wanted to light it, they found only a small cruse of pure olive oil bearing the seal of the High Priest Yochanan. It was sufficient to light only for one day. By a miracle of God, it continued to burn for eight days, until new oil was made available. That miracle proved that God had again taken His people under His protection. In memory of this eight days were appointed for annual thanksgiving and for lighting candles.

12. Meaning of word “Hanukkah” Hanukkah is the Hebrew word of “dedication” חָנַך Strong’s Concordance train, train up a (the) youth dedicate, of formal opening of a new house A primitive root; properly, to narrow; figuratively, to initiate or discipline -- dedicate, train up.

13. Is Hanukkah a sacred day? According to John P. Pratt, an LDS PhD astronomer, Reuben (the oldest son of Jacob/Israel) was born on the first day of Hanukkah and was circumcised on the last day. Joseph Smith was born on December 23, 1805, the eight day of Hanukkah.

14. Hanukkah Traditions Nine stick menorah: one for each night, plus a shammus (servant) at a different height. Each day one candle is lit (increasing brightness until the eight day when there is full light). The servant candle lights the other lights. The celebration continues 8 days ◦8 is a symbols of rebirth

15. Hanukkah Traditions & Joseph Smith Joseph Smith was born on the darkest day of the year (Winter Solstice), symbolizing the dawning of hope and a new day. He brought the light after the apostasy and Dark Ages. Strong evidence suggests that he is the “servant” repeatedly referenced in Isaiah.

16. Discuss the parallels to our day. 1.Cultural attack, lost identity. 2.Religious persecution. 3.FEW men stood up. 4.Father and son who led the revolt. 5.Fighting against insurmountable odds Questions to discuss: Do we have cultural actions that go against the teachings of the gospel? Did religious persecution end with the prophet Joseph? Have you ever had to stand alone for what was right?