Dr. Jodi Magness

you know, surprising victories against the Seleucids. It wasn't always, they weren't always, but they had some very significant victories. And then what happens in 164 BC is that Antiochus IV dies. And when he died, he was succeeded to the throne by his son, Antiochus V, who was five years old at the time.

Right. And so the kingdom now is put under the rule of a regent, basically. And Antiochus V issues an edict.

Right. And so the kingdom now is put under the rule of a regent, basically. And Antiochus V issues an edict.

Right. And so the kingdom now is put under the rule of a regent, basically. And Antiochus V issues an edict.

Yes, he was very ahead of his years. He issues an edict. And this edict then basically reversed his father's edict in allowing the Jews again to worship the God of Israel. The temple in Jerusalem was returned to them. They are, you know, Judaism is no longer outlawed. Jews are now free to worship the God of Israel, you know, without fear of persecution.

Yes, he was very ahead of his years. He issues an edict. And this edict then basically reversed his father's edict in allowing the Jews again to worship the God of Israel. The temple in Jerusalem was returned to them. They are, you know, Judaism is no longer outlawed. Jews are now free to worship the God of Israel, you know, without fear of persecution.

Yes, he was very ahead of his years. He issues an edict. And this edict then basically reversed his father's edict in allowing the Jews again to worship the God of Israel. The temple in Jerusalem was returned to them. They are, you know, Judaism is no longer outlawed. Jews are now free to worship the God of Israel, you know, without fear of persecution.

And the temple then is returned to the Jews and Judah and his brothers then cleanse the temple to rededicate it to the God of Israel. So in the meantime... All sorts of practices had been done in the temple that, you know, were again antithetical to Judaism.

And the temple then is returned to the Jews and Judah and his brothers then cleanse the temple to rededicate it to the God of Israel. So in the meantime... All sorts of practices had been done in the temple that, you know, were again antithetical to Judaism.

And the temple then is returned to the Jews and Judah and his brothers then cleanse the temple to rededicate it to the God of Israel. So in the meantime... All sorts of practices had been done in the temple that, you know, were again antithetical to Judaism.

You know, the offering of pigs for sacrifice and I mean, all sorts of stuff like that, which had basically polluted it in the eyes of Jews observing biblical law. So, you know, they cleansed the temple in order to rededicate it to the worship of the God of Israel. Now, one of the pieces of furniture, cultic furniture in the Jerusalem temple was a seven branched lampstand.

You know, the offering of pigs for sacrifice and I mean, all sorts of stuff like that, which had basically polluted it in the eyes of Jews observing biblical law. So, you know, they cleansed the temple in order to rededicate it to the worship of the God of Israel. Now, one of the pieces of furniture, cultic furniture in the Jerusalem temple was a seven branched lampstand.

You know, the offering of pigs for sacrifice and I mean, all sorts of stuff like that, which had basically polluted it in the eyes of Jews observing biblical law. So, you know, they cleansed the temple in order to rededicate it to the worship of the God of Israel. Now, one of the pieces of furniture, cultic furniture in the Jerusalem temple was a seven branched lampstand.

called the menorah and there was special oil that was used for the menorah because of course these are basically oil lamps right so the oil that was used for the menorah the lamp stand in the temple was a special oil that had to be prepared it had to be ritually pure oil and in the intervening three years you know during the revolt there had been no preparation allowed of anything like that there was no oil you know no special oil to light the menorah so the story this is a story now we're going into stories

called the menorah and there was special oil that was used for the menorah because of course these are basically oil lamps right so the oil that was used for the menorah the lamp stand in the temple was a special oil that had to be prepared it had to be ritually pure oil and in the intervening three years you know during the revolt there had been no preparation allowed of anything like that there was no oil you know no special oil to light the menorah so the story this is a story now we're going into stories

called the menorah and there was special oil that was used for the menorah because of course these are basically oil lamps right so the oil that was used for the menorah the lamp stand in the temple was a special oil that had to be prepared it had to be ritually pure oil and in the intervening three years you know during the revolt there had been no preparation allowed of anything like that there was no oil you know no special oil to light the menorah so the story this is a story now we're going into stories

But the story goes that they're cleansing the temple to rededicate it. They need to light the lampstand and there's no oil. And they find a little jar of special oil that was somehow tucked away that had enough oil in it to last for one day and one day only or one night or whatever. And they light the lampstand and somehow miraculously the oil burns instead of for one day, it burns for eight days.

But the story goes that they're cleansing the temple to rededicate it. They need to light the lampstand and there's no oil. And they find a little jar of special oil that was somehow tucked away that had enough oil in it to last for one day and one day only or one night or whatever. And they light the lampstand and somehow miraculously the oil burns instead of for one day, it burns for eight days.

But the story goes that they're cleansing the temple to rededicate it. They need to light the lampstand and there's no oil. And they find a little jar of special oil that was somehow tucked away that had enough oil in it to last for one day and one day only or one night or whatever. And they light the lampstand and somehow miraculously the oil burns instead of for one day, it burns for eight days.

And in the meantime, they're able to go and prepare new special oil to keep the lampstand lit. And that then becomes sort of the origin story, if you wish, of Hanukkah, the holiday of Hanukkah, which basically celebrates the outcome of the revolt, right? But this symbol of the lampstand becomes associated with the holiday of Hanukkah.