Biblical references
Text: World English Bible (public domain). The ESV and NKJV are the preferred study translations and are referenced, not reproduced.
22 It was the Feast of the Dedication at Jerusalem.
The Feast of the Dedication at Jerusalem, commemorating this event.
Biblical account
Layer: Biblical text
John mentions the Feast of the Dedication at Jerusalem in winter, the festival commemorating this rededication.
Historical overview
Layer: Historical reconstruction · Period: Seleucid rule over Judaea; reign of Antiochus IV (175–164 BC)
Antiochus IV's measures culminated in the "abomination of desolation" on the altar on 15 Chislev 145 SE (1 Macc 1:54). Three years later, on 25 Chislev 148, Judas Maccabaeus's party dedicated a new altar and instituted an eight-day festival (1 Macc 4:52–59), which Josephus says was called "Lights". The Babylonian King List reports Antiochus's death in Kislîmu 148 (Babylonian reckoning).[1, 2, 3]
- Antiochus IV Epiphanes: Seleucid king who suppressed Temple worship[1]
Kingdoms: Seleucid empire
Date and chronology derivation
Ranges are computed by the project's deterministic chronology engine from the biblical statements and each model's reign anchors. They are reconstructions, not independent dates.
165 BC – 163 BC
Model-independent (applies under every chronology model) · precision: month
How this range was derived
Earliest bound
- Synchronism: Rededication: 25 Chislev 148 SE (1 Macc 4:52) = Dec 165 or Dec 164 BC — independently dated between 15 Nov 165 BC and 15 Jan 163 BC (Seleucid-era date; epoch of 1 Maccabees' reckoning disputed) (John 10:22)[1, 2, 3, 4, 5]Assumption: Covers Chislev under both Seleucid-era epochs: from mid-Nov 165 BC to mid-Jan 163 BC. Driver (p. 119) and Montgomery give Dec 165; Josephus's Olympiad points to Dec 164. The two Seleucid-era epochs in 1 Maccabees are not resolved here; the window deliberately spans both. Olympiad conversion (Ol. 1 = 776 BC) is an operator calculation, not a source statement.
Latest bound
- Synchronism: Rededication: 25 Chislev 148 SE (1 Macc 4:52) = Dec 165 or Dec 164 BC — independently dated between 15 Nov 165 BC and 15 Jan 163 BC (Seleucid-era date; epoch of 1 Maccabees' reckoning disputed) (John 10:22)[1, 2, 3, 4, 5]Assumption: Covers Chislev under both Seleucid-era epochs: from mid-Nov 165 BC to mid-Jan 163 BC. Driver (p. 119) and Montgomery give Dec 165; Josephus's Olympiad points to Dec 164. The two Seleucid-era epochs in 1 Maccabees are not resolved here; the window deliberately spans both. Olympiad conversion (Ol. 1 = 776 BC) is an operator calculation, not a source statement.
What else was happening? (model-independent)
- Daniel's refusal of the king's food and the ten-day test (Dan 1:8–16): 606 BC – ?
- Nebuchadnezzar's golden image on the plain of Dura (Dan 3:1–7): 603 BC – ?
- Nebuchadnezzar's decree honouring the God of the three Judeans (Dan 3:28–30): 603 BC – ?
- The refusal of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and the fiery furnace (Dan 3:8–27): 603 BC – ?
- The thirty-day decree and Daniel in the lions' den (Dan 6:4–23): 539 BC – ?
- Darius appoints 120 satraps and three chief officials (Dan 6:1–3, 28): 539 BC – ?
- The accusers punished; Darius's decree honouring the God of Daniel (Dan 6:24–27): 539 BC – ?
- Gedaliah governs from Mizpah and is assassinated (2 Kgs 25:22–26): 589 BC – ?
- Accusations to Ahasuerus and the Rehum–Shimshai letter to Artaxerxes; the city's rebuilding stopped (Ezra 4:6–23): 537 BC – ?
- Jerusalem guarded under Hanani and Hananiah; the registry of the first returnees found (Neh 7:1–5): 446 BC – ?
- Jerusalem repopulated: one in ten by lot (Neh 11): 446 BC – ?
- The priestly and Levitical registers to the days of Jaddua (Neh 12:1–26): 446 BC – ?
- The first "burden" of Zechariah 9–11 (undated oracle collection): 518 BC – ?
- The second "burden" of Zechariah 12–14 (undated oracle collection): 518 BC – ?
- The institution of Purim; Mordecai second to the king (Esth 9:20–10:3): 474 BC – ?
- Antiochus IV Epiphanes (reign): 175 BC – 164 BC
- Death of Antiochus IV at Tabae in Persia (164 BC): 164 BC
Claims, evidence and classifications
Each claim is classified on its own. A classification describes the evidence for that specific claim, not for the event as a whole.
The Temple altar was rededicated on 25 Chislev 148 SE, three years after its desecration, and an eight-day festival was instituted.
1 Maccabees gives the date and the festival; Josephus gives the same Seleucid years with Olympiad equivalents (he likely depends on 1 Maccabees for the narrative); John 10:22 independently attests that the Feast of the Dedication was kept in the first century.
Supporting
- Desecration 15 Chislev 145; rededication 25 Chislev 148 "at the time and day the Gentiles had profaned it".[1]Strength: direct·1 Macc 1:54; 4:52–54·Claim checked
- Desolation 145 SE (153rd Olympiad), rededication 25 Apellaeus 148 SE (154th Olympiad); festival called "Lights".[2]Strength: direct·Ant. 12.7.6–7·Claim checked
- Interval of 3 years and 10 days between the heathen altar and the new altar.[4]Strength: indirect·p. 119·Claim checked
Limitations of this classification: Josephus partly dependent on 1 Maccabees.
Research date 2026-10-13
The rededication took place in December 164 BC (rather than 165 BC).
Driver and Montgomery date it to Dec 165 on a Macedonian (autumn 312) Seleucid epoch; Josephus's 154th Olympiad points to 164/163 (operator calculation). The chronology window spans both.
Supporting
- Rededication in the 154th Olympiad, i.e. from summer 164 BC on the standard Olympiad epoch (operator calculation).[2]Strength: indirect·Ant. 12.7.6·Claim checked
Challenging
- Chislev Era Sel. 148 = December 165; profanation Chislev 145 = 168.[5]Strength: indirect·on 8:14 and 12:11·Claim checked
Context
- The era was reckoned in a Babylonian (spring, Nisannu) and a Macedonian (autumn) calendar; year 1 SE = 312/311 BCE. Does not say which 1 Maccabees uses.[6]Strength: indirect·Seleucid Era·Claim checked
- Cleansing on 25 Chislev; letters dated year 148 (Dioscorinthius, Xanthicus).[7]Strength: direct·2 Macc 10:5; 11:21, 33, 38·Claim checked
Limitations of this classification: No modern study of the epochs read directly.
Research date 2026-10-13
Evidence by type
The same evidence regrouped by kind of source. Each item names the claims it bears on.
Archaeological evidence
None recorded for this event.
Scientific findings
None recorded for this event.
Ancient documents
- Desecration 15 Chislev 145; rededication 25 Chislev 148 "at the time and day the Gentiles had profaned it".[1]Bears on: supporting — “The Temple altar was rededicated on 25 Chislev 148 SE, three years aft…”
- Desolation 145 SE (153rd Olympiad), rededication 25 Apellaeus 148 SE (154th Olympiad); festival called "Lights".[2]Bears on: supporting — “The Temple altar was rededicated on 25 Chislev 148 SE, three years aft…”
- Rededication in the 154th Olympiad, i.e. from summer 164 BC on the standard Olympiad epoch (operator calculation).[2]Bears on: supporting — “The rededication took place in December 164 BC (rather than 165 BC).”
- Cleansing on 25 Chislev; letters dated year 148 (Dioscorinthius, Xanthicus).[7]Bears on: context — “The rededication took place in December 164 BC (rather than 165 BC).”
Modern news and announcements
None recorded for this event.
Reference works and summaries
- Interval of 3 years and 10 days between the heathen altar and the new altar.[4]Bears on: supporting — “The Temple altar was rededicated on 25 Chislev 148 SE, three years aft…”
- Chislev Era Sel. 148 = December 165; profanation Chislev 145 = 168.[5]Bears on: challenging — “The rededication took place in December 164 BC (rather than 165 BC).”
- The era was reckoned in a Babylonian (spring, Nisannu) and a Macedonian (autumn) calendar; year 1 SE = 312/311 BCE. Does not say which 1 Maccabees uses.[6]Bears on: context — “The rededication took place in December 164 BC (rather than 165 BC).”
Historical disputes and competing reconstructions
Disputed claims: The rededication took place in December 164 BC (rather than 165 BC).
Related passages and events
| From | Relationship | To | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| this event | Source attestationhigh · Biblical text | John 10:22 | The Feast of the Dedication commemorating the rededication. |
Prophetic relationships
No prophecy or proposed-fulfillment relationships have been recorded for this event.
Synchronisms with external chronology
Rededication: 25 Chislev 148 SE (1 Macc 4:52) = Dec 165 or Dec 164 BC
Calendar anchor · direct · evidence strength: moderate · independent date: 165 BC – 164 BC (Seleucid-era date; epoch of 1 Maccabees' reckoning disputed)
The Seleucid date 25 Chislev 148 converts to December 165 BC on the Macedonian (autumn 312) epoch used by Driver and Montgomery, or to December 164 BC on a spring-311 epoch; Josephus's 154th Olympiad (Ol. 154.1 = 164/163 on the standard epoch, operator calculation) favours 164.[1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
Assumptions: The two Seleucid-era epochs in 1 Maccabees are not resolved here; the window deliberately spans both. Olympiad conversion (Ol. 1 = 776 BC) is an operator calculation, not a source statement.
Unanswered questions and research gaps
- No accessible study states which Seleucid-era epoch 1 Maccabees uses; the question remains open (Iranica read; specialist literature not accessible).
- Read 2 Maccabees 10 and a modern treatment of the Seleucid-era epochs in 1 Maccabees.
Research process
1 logged searches
| Date | Query | Where | Useful |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-10-13 | Josephus Ant. 11.8.5, 12.7.6–7 (Gutenberg) | local text | 2 |
Sources
- 1.World English Bible. World English Bible — Apocrypha/Deuterocanon (1 Maccabees; 2 Esdras). eBible.org (eng-web USFM). ebible.orgClaim checkedAncient primary textWEB footnotes giving "circa B.C." dates are editorial and were not used as chronological evidence.Verification log
- 2.Josephus, Whiston, William (trans.). Josephus, Antiquities 12.7.6–7 (trans. W. Whiston). Project Gutenberg #2848. www.gutenberg.orgClaim checkedAncient primary textVerification log
- 3.van der Spek, R. J. (trans.). Babylonian King List of the Hellenistic Period (BM 35603) — Livius.org (trans. R. J. van der Spek). Livius.org. www.livius.orgClaim checkedAncient primary textThe page warns that the translation needs revision and some restorations are uncertain; "son" in rev. 10 is not literal (Antiochus IV was Seleucus IV's brother).Verification log
- 4.Driver, S. R.. The Book of Daniel (Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges). Cambridge University Press. archive.orgClaim checkedScholarly commentaryRead through the Internet Archive OCR text (Google scan).Verification log
- 5.Montgomery, James A.. A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the Book of Daniel (ICC). T. & T. Clark. archive.orgClaim checkedScholarly commentaryRead through the Internet Archive OCR text (University of Toronto copy).Verification log
- 6.Strootman, Rolf. Seleucid Era — Encyclopaedia Iranica. Encyclopaedia Iranica (online), 2015. www.iranicaonline.orgClaim checkedHistorical referencePublished 25 Mar 2015; does not say which calendar 1 or 2 Maccabees uses.Verification log
- 7.World English Bible contributors. World English Bible — Apocrypha/Deuterocanon (2 Maccabees 3, 6, 7, 9–11). eBible.org (eng-web USFM). ebible.orgClaim checkedAncient primary textVerification log
- 8.Guzik, David. Daniel 8 — Enduring Word Bible Commentary. Enduring Word. enduringword.comClaim checkedTheological commentaryInterpretive resource — not historical corroboration.Verification log