Books Jesus Read

Chapter 1: Spiritual Rebellion – Mattathias

35

The rededication continued night and day for eight days. Judas and his brothers, together with the entire assembly, decided that a similar commemoration of the temple’s rededication should be held every year beginning on the twenty-fifth of Chislev. 9 Judas fortified Mount Zion by building high walls and towers all around, and by stationing a command post to guard against invaders. He also rebuilt the fortress at Bethsura as a defense against future attack from Idumea.

9 Celebrated today as Hanukkah (“dedication”) and patterned after the dedication of Solomon’s Temple (1 Kgs 8:65–66) and Hezekiah’s cleansing of the temple (2 Chr 29:17).