Seminar 1: "Between the Testaments"

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Part 3: CHANUKAH - FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS
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The Chanukah (or Hanukkah) is the Jewish Festival of Lights or Feast
of Dedication that remembers the atrocities of Antiochus IV Epiphanes,
and the victorious war lead by Judas Maccabeus. The Apocryphal Books
of the Maccabees tell the story of Hanukkah.

In 165 BC after a three year struggle against the far superior forces
of Antiochus' armies, Judas Maccabeus defeated the Syrian tyrant in
heroic and miraculous engagements.  After cleansing the Temple of the
idols and destruction that Antiochus wrought against it, they found
only one small cruse of oil with which to light the sacred lamps. But
miraculously that oil lasted eight days.  The celebration is usually
in December on our calendar, but really begins on the eve of the 25th
day of the Hebrew month of Kislev and lasts eight days. It corresponds
to the Christmas celebration of Christmas in that gifts are exchanged
and contributions are made to the poor.  Each evening another MENORAH
candle is lighted until the eighth day the extra eighth candle is
added to the menorah.




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Part 4: HEBREW FESTIVALS (FEASTS)
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1.  Passover                           Ex. 12:1           Mar-April
2.  Unleavened Bread                   Ex 12:15-20        Mar-April
3.  Firstfruits                        Lev. 23:9-14       Mar-April
4.  Weeks (Pentecost)                  Ex. 23:16          May-June
5.  Trumpets (Rosh Hashanah/New Year)  Lev 23:23-25       Sept-Oct
6.  Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur)      Lev 16:26-32       Sept-Oct
7.  Tabernacles (Booths)               Lev 23:33-43       Sept-Oct
8.  Sacred Assembly                    Num 29:12-34       Sept-Oct
9.  Purim                              Est. 9:18-32       Feb-Mar
10. Dedication (Hanukkah)              John 10:22         Mid Dec

(Adapted from NIV Study Bible pp. 176-7, Zondervan Pub. 1985)

Learning the feast holidays of Israel will help the student of the
Word learn more about the events referred to in the Scriptures. Once
you are familiar with each of the festivals you more easily envision
the season of the year, and the mood of the people, which will help
you more clearly interpret the Word of God.  Take the extra time to
discover more about these holidays by doing a search on the Internet.
You will discover more information about holidays that will assist you
in understanding the Scriptures.



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Part 5: HEBREW MONTHS
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                            TABLE OF MONTHS
                            +------+-----+
                              SACRED YEAR
                 +-----------------------------------+
                 | Names & order of Hebrew months    |
                 +-----------------------------------+
                 |  1. Nisan . . . . . . . Mar-Apr   |
                 |  2. Zif or Jiar . . . . Apr-May   |
                 |  3. Sivan . . . . . . . May-Jun   |
                 |  4. Thamuz  . . . . . . Jun-Jul   |
                 |  5. Ab  . . . . . . . . Jul-Aug   |
                 |  6. Elul  . . . . . . . Aug-Sep   |
                 |  7. Ethanim or Tizri  . Sep-Oct   |
                 |  8. Marchesvan or Bul . Oct-Nov   |
                 |  9. Chisleu . . . . . . Nov-Dec   |
                 | 10. Tebeth  . . . . . . Dec-Jan   |
                 | 11. Shebat  . . . . . . Jan-Feb   |
                 | 12. Adar  . . . . . . . Feb-Mar   |
                 | 13. Ve-Adar or Second Adar        |
                 |                                   |
                 +-----------------------------------+

    (Adapted from NIV Study Bible pp. 102-3, Zondervan Pub. 1985)

            (YOU WILL NOT NEED TO KNOW THESE FOR THE TEST)


   The Jews reckoned their months according to the moon. Every
third year they added a month which they called Ve-Adar, in the same
way we add a day in every fourth or leap year.

   They began their civil year in the month of Tizri, or September,
according to which they computed and settled all temporal affairs. But
after coming out of Egypt they began their ecclesiastical year in the
month of Nisan, or March, from which they computed all their great
festivals.


                          --------------
                          THE JEWISH DAY
                          --------------

   Their day was twofold: the NATURAL, consisting of twenty-four
hours, which commenced at sunset; and the ARTIFICIAL, beginning at
sunrise and ending at sunset, which was divided into twelve equal
parts or hours. (See John 11:9)

   Their night was divided into four parts or watches, each consisting
of three hours. The first began at sunset; the second at nine o'clock;
the third at midnight; the fourth at three in the morning, and
continued until sunrise. These were sometimes otherwise expressed;
viz., even, midnight, cock-crowing, and the dawn. (See Mr 13:35)

   The artificial day was divided into four equal parts. The first
began at sunrise, and continued until nine o'clock; the second began
at nine, and continued till noon; the third began at noon, and ended
at three in the afternoon (which is sometimes termed the ninth hour);
the fourth began at three, and continued till sunset.