Eight Days of Light

By Mary Lynn Bushong

1The lands of the Middle East have rarely been quiet. There have been many wars and struggles there for more than 2000 years.
2Before the Romans built their empire, the Greeks built theirs. Their greatest empire builder was Alexander the Great.
3Long after he was gone, his generals tried to hold the empire together. Alexander did not worry much about changing the people. He let them worship their own gods and obey their laws as long as they did not interfere with his laws. After his death, the empire was divided among them.
4Israel fell under the rule of a Syrian king, Antiochus III. He liked the Jewish people and didn't interfere with their lives.
5His sons Seleucus IV and Antiocus IV ruled after him. They had no love for the Jewish people and imposed high taxes. They also made it illegal for the Jews to practice their own religion.
6This did not go over well. Many of the Jews rebelled. They were not willing to give up their beliefs. Many were willing to die for them.
7One day, a Syrian officer came to the village of Modine. He built an altar so the people could make sacrifices to the Greek gods. He brought a new priest with him. Mattityahu, the old priest for the village, became very angry. He killed the other priest while his friends and family took care of the Syrian soldiers. Then they destroyed the altar.
8The old priest knew that trouble would follow. He and his five sons went to hide in the Judean wilderness. Mattityahu died a year later, but his son Judah Maccabee became the leader.
9Many people fled to the wilderness to join the Maccabees. Their name (meaning hammer) was an image of strength.
10The battles in the revolt were short and fast. The rebels kept chipping away at the Syrian army until the Maccabees won. The Jews were granted some independence and allowed to practice their religion once more.
11One of the first things they did was to clean their temple. They got rid of all the idols. Then they built a new altar.
12When the temple was ready to be dedicated, they wanted to light the menorah, a special lamp. They found only a small jar of oil. It was just enough to burn the lamp for one day. Once the menorah lamp was lit, it was not supposed to be allowed to go out.
13Instead of going out, the multiple lights kept burning. They burned for eight days. That was long enough to get more of the special, pure olive oil. It had to be purest of the pure. The people saw it as a sign that their God was with them.
14The miracle is celebrated every year as the festival of lights. It is not the victory in battle that is remembered. It is the miracle of the lamp oil. It lasted for eight days so that is why Hanukkah lasts eight days.

1. What empire was right before the Romans?

Germans
Greeks
Babylonians
Persians

2. What did the Syrian kings do that caused a Jewish rebellion?

They ignored Jewish laws.
They increased taxes.
They forbade the Jews' religion.
They were made slaves.

3. The new priest who tried to offer a sacrifice in Modine to the Greek gods was killed.

False
True

4. The old priest in Modine led an unsuccessful rebellion.

False
True

5. The Maccabees hid in the Judean wilderness.

False
True

6. The name Maccabee meant ______.

Pillow
Mallet
Hammer
Stone

7. The Jewish people rested for a while after winning the war.

False
True

8. Put these events in order.

_____, _____, ______, _____

The menorah was lit.
The temple was cleansed.
The lamp burned for eight days.
The Jews were given religious freedom.