Midrash for Hanukkah: The Establishment of the Holiday

One generation passes away, and another generation comes: but the earth abides forever (Ecclesiastes 1:4). But does it not say: And the earth will wear out like a garment (Isaiah 51:6)? Rather, this refers to Israel who are called “the earth,” as it is stated for you shall be a delightful earth (Malachi 3:12). One generation passes away, and another generation comes: these are the nations of the world. For in every generation, they conspire against Israel to destroy them, and the Holy One rescues us from them, as it is stated: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him (Psalms 91:15). [ . . . ] Greece came and issued decrees, and the eyes of Israel were darkened [with fear]. And they said, whoever mentions the name of the Holy One shall be stabbed by a sword. And many Israelites turned to apostasy.

There was one evil apostate, Tatni ben Paḥat was his name, who gave wicked counsel against Israel, and he would say to [the Greeks], “So long as they bring the morning and afternoon [tamid] sacrifice, they will not fall into your hands. Therefore, arise and discontinue [the sacrifices].”

Then this evil one spoke further, “Their God hates promiscuity; if you can cause them to stumble through fornication, you will reign over them.” So, they decreed that whoever would write a ketubah for his wife would have his fingers ripped off.

And he said further, “They have one commandment that if they do not perform it, they will be driven from the world. This is the lighting of [the menorah] in the Temple, as it is stated: To cause the lamp to burn always (Exodus 27:20).” [ . . . ] The [Greeks] arose and defiled all the oils in the temple. And only one flask remained, for they did not know that it was under the altar. And a miracle transpired, and [the Israelites] used that small flask to light the [menorah] for eight days.

And the Holy One arose and established the eight days of Hanukkah, for hitherto it had not been a holiday. The Holy One said, “You sought to abolish the seven lamps and eight days of Sukkot. I shall bring down upon you eight days and seven sons of Hasmonea who shall drive you from this world. You said whoever mentions My name shall be impaled on a sword. I shall establish Hallel, praising my name for eight days of Hanukkah.” And of [these days] David stated: For the conductor, on the eighth [day] (Psalms 12:1).

Their sword shall enter into their own heart, and their bows shall be broken (Psalms 37:15).

R. Simeon bar Yoḥai said: These are the Greeks who waged war against the House of Hasmonea and his sons. When they entered the sanctum, one Greek took a Torah scroll and brought Hannah—the daughter of Yoḥanan the high priest, a woman whose beauty was unmatched the world over, who was married to Eleazar the son of Hasmonea. That Greek wished to go in unto her [i.e., sleep with her] in front of her husband and father. Yoḥanan the high priest said to Mathias, “I and my three sons and you, Hasmonea, and your seven sons are in total twelve. These correspond to the twelve tribes [of Israel]. I am certain that God shall perform a miracle through us.” Eleazar immediately raised his sword and killed that Greek. And he said, “My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth (Psalms 121:2).”

R. Isaac said: There were sixty thousand battalion [leaders], and each one had one thousand men under his command. They came with Gliscus the evil one to wage war against the House of Hasmonea, and that evil one said, “What have we to fear? They are twelve men against a great army!? Perhaps their God will command the stars to depart from their paths and wage war against us, destroying us as they did with Sisera? [No matter.] We shall anoint ourselves in pig blood and horse semen and they will not touch us. And if you say that [God] shall bring a deluge, He already swore by His great name that He would never [again] bring a deluge upon the world. And if you say He will send snakes, scorpions, and bears, as He did to the Cutheans, we will ride upon elephants that no animal can reach.” [ . . . ]

Immediately, the Holy One took pity upon them [i.e., the Jews]. And He said, “Be silent my children! Stand where you are and watch the vengeance of God that He shall unleash upon the non-Jews.” And He gathered all the angelic princes of all seventy nations, and said to them, “Each one of you shall kill his share of that evil one’s army, and if even one [soldier] escapes, your life shall be taken in his stead.” As it is stated: And it shall come to pass on that day, that the Lord shall punish the host of the high ones that are on high (Isaiah 24:21).

Immediately they came down to the earth. When any Greek would draw an arrow on his bow to shoot an Israelite, the angel would turn it back on him, plunging it into his heart, as it is stated: The bows of the warriors are broken (1 Samuel 2:4); and their sword shall enter their own heart (Psalms 37:15). And the sons of the House of Hasmonea looked at each other and said to one another, “The Lord shall fight for you, and you shall be silent (Exodus 14:14).”

It was taught: For three years none could pass there due to the stench [of their corpses]. And for seven years the children of Israel sowed their fields and vineyards without fertilizer, using nothing but their blood. And for twenty-three years, the Israelites used their spears and bows for firewood. [ . . . ]

And they returned to the Temple in peace, and they found no pure oil—save a small flask [hidden] in the libation channels under the altar. And there was only enough oil to light for one night. But a miracle transpired, and they used it to [light the menorah] for eight days, and they instituted the eight days of Hanukkah.