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Is Chanukah mentioned in the Bible?

by Rabbi Naftali Silberberg

  

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No. The miracle of Chanukah occurred after Biblical times.

The last of the Biblical prophets, Haggai, Zechariah and Malachi, lived at the onset of the Second Temple Era. Shortly thereafter the Men of the Great Assembly canonized the twenty four books of the Bible.

The Maccabeean war and the ensuing miracles happened close to two centuries later.

Most of the events of Chanukah were recorded in the Books of the Maccabees. These books of unknown authorship, written by a Jewish chronicler who lived as the story of Chanukah unfolded, are universally accepted as being quite accurate.

The basic Chanukah story is also recorded in Tractate Shabbat of the Talmud.


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Chankah in the Torah

Posted by: Joey Fox on Jul 14, 2011

There are hints to Chanukah in the Torah (ex. the 25th word in the Torah is "Or" or light, where Chanukah is the festival of lights and is on the 25th day of Kislev). Other examples of references to Chanukah in the Torah are mentioned in The Book of Our Heritage by Eliyahu Kitov.
Shabbat
(pl: Shabbatot). Hebrew word meaning "rest." It is a Biblical commandment to sanctify and rest on Saturday, the seventh day of the week. This commemorates the fact that after creating the world in six days, G-d rested on the seventh.
Talmud
Usually referring to the Babylonian edition, it is a compilation of Rabbinic law, commentary and analysis compiled over a 600 year period (200 BCE - 427 CE). Talmudic verse serves as the bedrock of all classic and modern-day Torah-Jewish literature.
Chanukah
An eight day mid-winter holiday marking: 1) The miraculous defeat of the mighty Syrian-Greek armies by the undermanned Maccabis in the year 140 BCE. 2) Upon their victory, the oil in the Menorah, sufficient fuel for one night only, burned for eight days and nights.
Men of the Great Assembly
An institution of 120 rabbis who led the Jewish people at the onset of the Second Temple Era. They canonized the 24 books of the Bible and composed most of the prayers we have today. This institution lasted approximately 200 years.
Temple
1. Usually a reference to the Holy Temple which was/will be situated in Jerusalem. 1st Temple was built in 825 BCE and was destroyed in 423 BCE. The 2nd Temple was built in 350 BCE and was destroyed in 70 CE. The 3rd Temple will be built by the Messiah. 2. A synagogue.
Maccabees
The Maccabees (Hebrew: Makabim) were a Jewish family who fought against the rule of Antiochus IV Epiphanes of the Hellenistic Seleucid dynasty in the story of Chanukah. The Maccabees founded the Hasmonean royal line and established Jewish independence in the land of Israel for about 100 years.