Hanukkah was a few weeks ago but a scripture I just heard reminded me of Hanukkah and I wrote down this after-thought.
For that thought to make sense, you have know this brief history of Hanukkah. The story of Hannukah is the history of the mighty Maccabees who defeated the Seleucids.
The Seleucid Empire was established by Nicator, a general of Alexander the Great. After Alexander the Great's death in 323 BCE, his generals divided his empire. Nicator became king of the eastern provinces, which included Syria. (Syria is where the Midianites wandered.)
During the Greek Selucide rule, the temple lights were dark and the people practiced Helenistic pagan ways. Israel was in the dark spiritually.
Fascinatingly, Daniel prophesied the fall of the Median-Persian Empire (represented as a ram) to the Greek Empire (the Seleucid Empire). After the Greeks would come the Romans, which Daniel also prophecied! But there is an important part of history right in-between the Seleucid Greeks and the Roman rule of Israel!
In between the Greeks and the Romans was a time called The Hasmonean Dynasty -- a crucial period in Jewish history. This is when the story of Hannukah began!
It was the Jewish Maccabees who threw the Greeks out! They destroyed the Greek idols and rebuilt Israel. The history is recorded in books, 1 and 2, of the Maccabees. It is also documented by Josephus in his works: "The first book of The Wars of the Jews," Antiquities of the Jews.
The Hasmoneans were descendants of the Maccabees, who defeated the Seleucids and rededicated the Temple in Jerusalem. The Hasmoneans were a priestly family who became kings and High Priests of Judea.
The Hasmonean Dynasty was a united and highly prosperous time in Israel. Israel had tossed off the yoke of it's Greek oppressor. The nation grew and there was much construction! Money also brings corruption! That came along with two Kings by the name of Herod.
Now for my "after-thought." To my mind, this period sounds like what is described in Isaiah 9:2-4
have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of deep darkness
a light has dawned.
You have enlarged the nation
and increased their joy;
they rejoice before you
as people rejoice at the harvest,
as warriors rejoice
Historically speaking, after the Greeks did come the Romans. In fact, the Maccabees brought the Romans into the picture by inviting them to make a treaty with Israel. At that time, Rome was just a Republic, not an Empire. But they were strong enough to help the Jews deter the Greeks, which is precisely why the Maccabees entered into the first foreign contract ever with Rome.
The Jews were afraid that the Greeks would come back again. The treaty they made with Rome was intended to prevent that from happening. It worked. Of course, things didn't turn out as they planned. Rome brought a new oppressor, Ceasar. An oppressor who grew more powerful. An oppressor with horrible ways of punishment. Rome is influencing the world still today.
As the expression goes, "Man plans, God laughs."
Proverbs 16.9 -- In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps
