A continuation...
As Matityahu led the villagers into the hills and canyons of what the West now calls the "West Bank," other villages, hearing of the confrontation, also hid in the wilderness. Some wanted to fight the foreigners, while others wanted to avoid the Greek's revenge that was sure to follow.
One of the villages that did begin fighting back, had its encampment surrounded. Being the Jewish Sabbath (Friday sundown to Saturday sundown), the elders of that village forbade their warriors from fighting on the Sabbath, even if attacked by the Greeks. The Greeks, banking on their knowledge of Jewish practices, chose the Sabbath to launch their assault on the Jewish encampment.
To the last person, including women and children, the entire village was exterminated. Hearing of this, Matityahu preached that it is a sin not to fight the enemies of the Jewish People. Using guerilla warfare, including Sabbath attacks, the "Maccabis" were able to defeat the Greco Sryian occupiers. Upon liberating Jerusalem they found the Temple defiled. As they re-consecrated this one edifice central to the Jewish Faith, they found themselves short of the ritual oil needed to light the ceremonial candelbra, a "menorah" (m'norah) a giant brass candle holder with three candles on either side, and one larger candle in the middle, which is used to light the smaller candles on the sides. Looking all over the Temple complex a single jar of purified ceremonial oil was discovered. Unfortunately, it would only last 24 hours while the manufacture of new oil would take a week.
Lighting the single candle in the middle, the Jews prayed, as some went about preparing the ritual oil. A miracle occurred, that single day's oil lasted a full 8 days, enough time to prepare the new oil. Unfortunately, Matityahu, the leader of the Jewish warriors, died of old age and never saw his country liberated. Dying, he named one son- Shimon (Simon)- as his successor. Shimon and his five brothers then founded the Hasmonean Monarchy, fully restoring Jewish Sovereignity.
The holiday of Channukah is about revenge and honouring one's ancestors and reaping the "miracles" that come from such pious behaviour.
As Matityahu led the villagers into the hills and canyons of what the West now calls the "West Bank," other villages, hearing of the confrontation, also hid in the wilderness. Some wanted to fight the foreigners, while others wanted to avoid the Greek's revenge that was sure to follow.
One of the villages that did begin fighting back, had its encampment surrounded. Being the Jewish Sabbath (Friday sundown to Saturday sundown), the elders of that village forbade their warriors from fighting on the Sabbath, even if attacked by the Greeks. The Greeks, banking on their knowledge of Jewish practices, chose the Sabbath to launch their assault on the Jewish encampment.
To the last person, including women and children, the entire village was exterminated. Hearing of this, Matityahu preached that it is a sin not to fight the enemies of the Jewish People. Using guerilla warfare, including Sabbath attacks, the "Maccabis" were able to defeat the Greco Sryian occupiers. Upon liberating Jerusalem they found the Temple defiled. As they re-consecrated this one edifice central to the Jewish Faith, they found themselves short of the ritual oil needed to light the ceremonial candelbra, a "menorah" (m'norah) a giant brass candle holder with three candles on either side, and one larger candle in the middle, which is used to light the smaller candles on the sides. Looking all over the Temple complex a single jar of purified ceremonial oil was discovered. Unfortunately, it would only last 24 hours while the manufacture of new oil would take a week.
Lighting the single candle in the middle, the Jews prayed, as some went about preparing the ritual oil. A miracle occurred, that single day's oil lasted a full 8 days, enough time to prepare the new oil. Unfortunately, Matityahu, the leader of the Jewish warriors, died of old age and never saw his country liberated. Dying, he named one son- Shimon (Simon)- as his successor. Shimon and his five brothers then founded the Hasmonean Monarchy, fully restoring Jewish Sovereignity.
The holiday of Channukah is about revenge and honouring one's ancestors and reaping the "miracles" that come from such pious behaviour.