Bible Dictionaries
Dedication, Feast of the

Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible

Search for…

Enter query below:

or

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z

Prev Entry
Dedication

Next Entry
Deep

Resource Toolbox

Print Article

Additional Links

Concordances
Torrey Topical Textbook
• Feast of Dedication, the
Dictionaries
American Church Dictionary
• Dedication, Feast of
Baker's Evangelical Dictionary
• Dedication, Feast of
Easton's Bible Dictionary
• Dedication, Feast of the
Fausset Bible Dictionary
• Dedication, Feast of
Holman Bible Dictionary
• Dedication, Feast of
Hastings' BibleDictionary
• Dedication, Feast of the
Hastings' NT Dictionary
• Dedication, Feast of
Morrish Bible Dictionary
• Dedication, Feast of
1910 New Catholic Dictionary
• Feast of the Dedication
• Dedication, Feast of the
Smith Bible Dictionary
• Dedication The Feast of The
Encyclopedias
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
• Dedication, Feast of
McClintock and Strong's Bible Encyclopedia
• Dedication, the Feast of the
The Nuttall Encyclopedia
• Feasts, Jewish, of Dedication
The Catholic Encyclopedia
• Feast of the Dedication (Scriptural)
The Jewish Encyclopedia
• Dedication Feast
Lexicons
• ἐγκαίνια

DEDICATION, FEAST OF THE . After the desecration of the Temple and altar by Antiochus Epiphanes, Judas Maccabæus re-consecrated them in b.c. 165 on the 25th day of Chislev (December); cf. 1Ma 4:52-59 , 2Ma 10:6 . This event was henceforward celebrated by a feast all over the country ( John 10:22 ). It lasted 8 days. There was no suspension of business or labour, and but few additions were made to the ordinary synagogue services. The special feature of the festival was the illumination of private houses, whence came its alternative name ‘the Feast of Lights.’ (There were divergent rules for these illuminations in the various schools of traditionalists.) It was an occasion for feasting and jollity: the people assembled at the synagogues, carrying branches of palms and other trees; the services were jubilant, no fast or mourning could begin during the period, and the Hallel ( Psalms 113:1-9; Psalms 114:1-8; Psalms 115:1-18; Psalms 116:1-19; Psalms 117:1-2; Psalms 118:1-29 ) was chanted. The resemblances of this celebration to the Feast of Tabernacles were perhaps intentional.

A. W. F. Blunt.