John 10:22 “Now it was the Feast of Dedication in Jerusalem, and it was winter.”

The greek word for the “feast of dedication” is G1456 – egkainia. The meaning given in the concordance or blueletterbible is “the annual feast celebrated eight days beginning in the 25th of Chislev (middle of our December), instituted by Judas Maccabaeus [164 BC] in memory of the cleansing of the temple“. The middle of December is basically the middle of winter in Jerusalem. Egkainia (or encainia) is a Greek word meaning “dedication” or “renewal,” most famously referring to the Jewish Feast of Dedication called Hanukkah.

Hanukkah is a Hebrew word H2598 – ḥănukâ and first appears in Numbers 7, click here for our post and explanation on the true meaning of Hanukkah – which means dedication, which is a one time event, and not a yearly event as instituted by the Maccabees and Jews. In Numbers 7’s post we also explained the origin of the Hanukkah feast, and where one can read the story of the Maccabees, which is based on war and revolts. In the end, the Maccabees had to make an alliance with the Romans to be able to stay in Jerusalem. We can read the following in the book of Maccabees:

• 1 Maccabees 8:17-32: Judas Maccabeus sends envoys to Rome to establish a treaty of friendship and alliance in order to “lift the yoke from Israel” from the Greek kingdom. A copy of the treaty is included in the text, inscribed on bronze tablets.
• 1 Maccabees 12:1-4: Jonathan sends men to Rome to “confirm and renew the friendship” with them.
• 1 Maccabees 15:15-24: Simon sends envoys to Rome who arrive with letters from the Roman consul Lucius, confirming their alliance and ordering other nations not to harm the Jews.

Here is a short summary of what happened:

• 175–167 BC : Before the Maccabean Revolt, the Seleucid kings (who ruled Judea at the time) began selling the High Priesthood to the highest bidder, moving away from the hereditary system to impose the Greek culture on the Temples.
• 164-152 BC : After Judas Maccabeus’s initial military successes and the rededication of the Temple in 164 BC, his brother Jonathan Apphus was the first Hasmonean to assume the role of High Priest, through an appointment by the Greek ruler Alexander Balas. Which means, the Jews were not free, and the very people they fought, they had to make an alliance with to become High Priests in their own rights. 
• 141 BC : Jonathan’s brother, Simon Thassi, was appointed High Priest, military commander, and civil governor by acclamation from a “great assembly” of the Jewish people. This assembly made the high priesthood hereditary in Simon’s family “forever, until there should arise a faithful prophet,” effectively establishing the Hasmonean dynasty.
• 139 BC : The Hasmoneans did establish diplomatic relations and a treaty with Rome, first under Judas Maccabeus around 161 BC and more formally under Simon in 139 BC. In 138 BC a celebration was held and declared by the Jews to celebrate the Hanukkah/Dedication of the Temple of 164BC every year, and call the yearly celebration also “Hanukkah”.
• 63 BC : The Romans eventually intervened in Hasmonean civil strife in 63 BCE, when general Pompey conquered Jerusalem. At this point, the Hasmonean state lost its independence, and the high priesthood eventually became a political appointment controlled by Roman rulers, such as Herod the Great.
• 36 BC : Herod makes his 17-year-old brother-in-law Aristobulus III high priest, fearing that the Jews would appoint him as King of the Jews in his place.

Now back in Yeshua’s time, we can have a better picture of this Hanukkah festival, which were celebrated by the Jews, and especially by the Priets and Pharisees, who were by now related to the Romans. The Temple and the priesthood have been completely corrupted. Back in Jeremiah’s 7 post, and many prophets before Yeshua, warning the people that they should not worship “the Temple” and put all their faith in the Temple. Because the people have taken their eyes of YHWH, and think their salvation lies in the Temple.

When Yeshua walked onto Solomon’s porch, which were on the eastern side of the Temple, the Jews “surrounded Him”, according to verse 24. Here at the “Hanukkah Festival”, immediately there is a confrontation with Yeshua. In John 10:26 Yeshua says, “you don’t believe because you’re not my sheep.” Yeshua was not welcome at Hanukkah, as He openly critisized who these people were and their intentions. These “priests” were so desperate at this point to kill Yeshua, and in verse 39 it says “The Jews tried to arrest Yeshua again, but He got away from them.” Yeshua had to leave, He was not welcome at this party.