Antiochus IV Epiphanes ruled the Seleucid Empire (including parts of modern-day Syria, Turkey, and Iran) from 175 BCE until his death in 164 BCE. Antiochus IV was a son of King Antiochus III the Great. Antiochus IV banned the observance of the Shabbat (Sabbath), made circumcision a crime, outlawed Biblical dietary laws, festivals, Jewish traditions, gatherings, restricted Temple service and customs, undermined religious leadership, and required the worship of Greek gods.
Finally, enough was enough! The Maccabean Revolt was born under the leadership of the priest Mattathias and his sons. Mattathias saw the blasphemies being committed in Judah and Jerusalem, and said, “Alas! Why was I born to see this, the ruin of my people, the ruin of the holy city, and to dwell there when it was given over to the enemy, the sanctuary given over to aliens? Her temple has become like a man without honor; her glorious vessels have been carried into captivity. Her babes have been killed in her streets, her youths by the sword of the foe…” 1 Maccabee 2:6-9
Mattathias refused to worship Greek gods and was no longer tolerant of Hellenistic Jews (Jews who embraced Greek pagan living). The war against Antiochus IV was also a civil war. Many of the Jewish people banded together and fought the great Seleucid Empire’s military and the Hellenistic Jews. The Maccabees finally retook Jerusalem and rededicated the Temple to God! Peace was reached after the death of Antiochus IV by his son Antiochus Eupator in 164 BCE.
Neither the Books of Maccabee, the writings of Josephus, nor the New Testament mention a miracle of oil that lasted eight days. The miracle that actually occurred was that we fought both internal and external threats to our identity and our desire to serve and worship the one and only God and we survived!
Antiochus IV forced his beliefs on Israel. Today the attempt to Hellenize the people is less aggressive but conformity is no less deadly. In America, the laws don’t make it illegal to keep Shabbat. However, any attempts to live a Torah observant life are often met with contempt, ridicule, mockery, or slurs. Well-meaning people will say ‘Jesus did away with those things.” Wouldn’t that meaning Jesus was in agreement with Antiochus IV from 200 years before his death. Or those people will proclaim ‘trying to keep the Law is legalism.’ Well, that would mean that Jesus was a legalist, wouldn’t it?
The people of God are always at war. We, like the Maccabees, are fighting both a civil war where we find ourselves fighting against our internal desires, weaknesses, and erroneous beliefs. Then we are fighting against the external forces where our traditions are ridiculed and things like circumcision and kosher diet are viewed as cruel and barbaric. Just like Mattathias’ revolt, we must revolt against any assimilation attempts and we must always be in submission to GOD!
They tried to kill us.
God saved us.
Let’s EAT!
Happy Hannukah! May you continue a life of Hanukkah (dedication) to the God of Heaven and Earth.
Torah Road 