DOCSLIB.ORG

Hanukkah: the Festival of Lights

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Hanukkah: the Festival of Lights The Honorable Jaramogi Abebe Agyeman, Founder and 1st Holy Patriarch HANUKKAH: THE FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5.14-16 THE HOLY ORDER OF THE MACCABEES A BASIC REVIEW OF THE HISTORY AND MEANING OF HANUKKAH Jaramogi Menelik Kimathi, Holy Patriarch and Presiding Bishop [1] The Re-dedication of the Temple “Now that our enemies have been defeated, let us go up to purify the sanctuary and dedicate it” – 1Maccabee 4.36 “Maccabaeus and his companions, under the Lord's guidance, restored the Temple and the city, and pulled down the altars erected by the foreigners in the market place, as well as the shrines. They purified the sanctuary and built another altar; … This day of the purification of the Temple fell on the very day on which the Temple had been profaned by the foreigners, the twenty-fifth of the same month, Chislev. …Judas, with his brothers and the whole assembly of Israel, made it a law that the days of the dedication of the altar should be celebrated yearly at the proper season, for eight days beginning on the twenty-fifth of the month of Chislev, with rejoicing and gladness.” – 2 Maccabees 10.1-3, 1 Maccabee 4.56 [2] TABLE OF CONTENTS HANUKKAH: FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS ................................................................................................... 4 JESUS AND THE CELEBRATION OF HANUKKAH ................................................................................. 7 COLLECTIVE REFLECTION .............................................................................................................. 10 PERSONAL REFLECTION ................................................................................................................. 11 HANUKKAH AND THE SEASON OF ADVENT For members of the Pan African Orthodox Christian Church, the celebration of Hanukkah is a part of our annual observance of the Holy Season of Advent, Christmas, and Kwanzaa. The word ‘Hanukkah’, means dedication. During Hanukkah, we revisit the history of GOD’s intervention in the lives of ancient Israel, through the victory of the Maccabees; an intervention that made it possible for Israel to remain a people until the coming of the messiah. During this season, we seek to re-dedicate our lives to the service of GOD, through a renewed or greater commitment to the spiritual and philosophical teachings of BCN and a renewed or greater participation in the programs and ministries of the church. Together, these constitute the foundation for building the Kingdom of God, a communal, counter – culture lifestyle, guided by our Best Self Theology, and the principle “there is nothing more sacred than the liberation of Black people.” [3] HANUKKAH: FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS Hanukkah, also known as oppressors.4 Refusal meant a gruesome and the Feast of Dedication1, torturous death5. or the Festival of Lights2, is an 8-day celebration, commemorating the renewal and While some chose to accept the foreign idols, re-dedication of the Holy temple in out of the mistaken notion of becoming Jerusalem, back to the GOD of Israel, after a modern and being accepted amongst the 3 – year period of foreign worship and nations6, others chose to go along out of fear7. domination3. In 167 B.C., under the reign of Yet there were others, who refused to the infamous King Antiochus IV, a decree abandon the God of their ancestors8, but was issued to the Israelites, forcing them to would not defend themselves either, and so abandon their covenant with GOD, cease all they were killed as martyrs9. The Israelites religious and cultural observances that were faced with cultural and physical identified them as the people of GOD, and annihilation, just as the lost tribes of Israel then adopt the foreign gods of their Greek faced centuries earlier.10 “57 Whenever anyone was discovered possessing a copy of the covenant or practising the Law, the king's decree sentenced him to death. 58 Month after month they took harsh action against any offenders they discovered in the towns of Israel... 60 Women who had had their children circumcised were put to death according to the edict 61 with their babies hung round their necks, and the members of their household and those who had performed the circumcision were executed with them.” – 1 Maccabee 1.57 – 58, 60 – 61 REVIEW AND REFLECT: What is Hanukkah? Why is it important to our faith? 1 John 10.22 independent nation until they were conquered by the 2 The name ‘Festival of Lights,’ comes from the Jewish Babylonians in 586 B.C. However, unlike their fellow historian Flavious Josephus. tribesmen of the former northern kingdom, only the 3 The prophecy of days referenced in the book of leadership of the nation and their families were Daniel (Daniel 8:9 – 14) is referring to this 3 – year deported. So, the nation continued to exist as a vassal period of time in which the temple worship and state under the Babylonian empire. When the Persians sacrifices had ceased. conquered the Babylonians, the families that were 4 1 Maccabee 1.41 – 53 deported, were later allowed to return under the 5 1 Maccabee 1.41 – 64, 2 Maccabees 7.1 – ff leadership of Nehemiah and Ezra, to rebuild the 6 1 Maccabee 1.11 temple and the nation. From this point, Israel existed 7 2 Maccabee … as a semi – independent nation with complete religious 8 1 Maccabee 1. freedom under the direction and rule of the high priest. 9 1 Maccabee 2.29 – 38 However, they had to pay an annual tribute and 10 2 Kings 17.6 – ff: the northern kingdom of Israel provide military support during times of war. It was was conquered by the Assyrians and dispersed not only this semi-autonomous existence that was at throughout the Assyrian empire in 722 B.C. Other stake under Antiochus IV, their actual physical groups were then brought in to re-settle the land. As a existence as a nation was being threatened just like the result, the northern kingdom ceased to exist as a nation former lost tribes of Israel. The Maccabee rebellion and has since been referred to as the lost tribes of effectively put a stop to this threat, making it possible Israel. The 2 remaining tribes that made up the for Israel to continue to exist as a nation and the future southern kingdom of Judah, continued to exist as an arrival of the Black Messiah Jesus, as we now know it. [4] HANUKKAH: FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS And then arose a priest named Mattathias11, Maccabees put their faith and his five sons12, who became known as the in GOD, and they won. MACCABEES, THE HAMMERS OF GOD, who After three years of fighting, they re-captured would neither give up their God, OR their the holy temple , and restored its worship to lives without a fight. And so, they fought with the God of Israel in 164 BC14. And so, the blessings of GOD and the guidance of the Hanukkah celebrates the intervention of Holy Spirit. They declared holy war against GOD, through the victory of the Maccabees, the Syrian empire13. While their enemies put in one of the darkest periods in the history of their faith in the superior capabilities, ancient Israel15. experience, and equipment of their army, the “19 Raising his voice, Mattathias retorted, "Even if every nation living in the king's dominions obeys him, each forsaking its ancestral religion to conform to his decrees, 20 I, my sons and my brothers will still follow the covenant of our ancestors. 21 May Heaven preserve us from forsaking the Law and its observances. 22 As for the king's orders, we will not follow them: we shall not swerve from our own religion either to right, or to left.” – 1 Maccabee 2.19 – 22 “Maccabaeus marshalled his men, who numbered about six thousand, and exhorted them not to be dismayed at the enemy or discouraged at the vast horde of gentiles wickedly advancing against them, but to fight bravely, keeping before their eyes the outrage committed by them against the holy place and the infamous and scornful treatment inflicted on the city, not to mention the destruction of their traditional way of life. `They may put their trust in their weapons and their exploits," he said, "but our confidence is in almighty God, who is able with a single nod to overthrow both those marching on us and the whole world with them." – 2 Maccabee 8:16 – 18 REVIEW AND REFLECT: What lessons of faith can we learn from the story of Hanukkah? 11 1 Maccabee 2.1: Mattathias was a member of the memory of Israel even during the ministry of Jesus. In priestly clan of Joarib, the first of the priestly clans fact, it was so prominent, in many circles, the expected after the high priest. He died shortly after starting the Messiah was thought to be a figure like Judas rebellion, leaving Judas and Simon in charge of the Maccabee. war effort. Judas as the commander and Simon as the 13 The holy war was initiated by Mattathias in counselor. December of 167. The re-dedication of the temple 12 1 Maccabee 2.2 – 5: John, Simon, Judas, Eleazar, occurred in December of 164. During that time, the and Jonathan. Judas was appointed as the commander Maccabees fought four major battles against Seleucid of the rebellion. The name Maccabee, was first applied forces, decisively winning three and fighting to a draw to Judas, and then later extended to his family and then on the fourth.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Hanukah History
    A BRIEF HISTORY OF Chanukah More than a little oil – edited by Rabbi Ron Symons Alexander the Great conquered Israel in the 4 th century B.C.E. He was a benevolent ruler result of a vision he was said to have had before he began any battle. The story goes that upon entering Jerusalem, he was met by the High Priest, Shimon HaTzaddik. Before every battle, he saw his likeness in a vision. As a result, he cancelled taxes on the Jews during the Sabbatical year, offered animals in the Temple on his own behalf, and granted the Jews religious freedom. Conditions changed when Alexander died. His empire was divided among different generals. After a power struggle, Israel came under the control of the Seleucid Dynasty – Greek kings who ruled from Syria. Until this point, the major threat was spiritual annihilation resulting from Hellenization, the adaptation of Greek culture and philosophy (assimilation). Hellenization attacked the moral, ethical and religious fibre of Judaism. Many Jews resisted assimilation but many became ardent Hellenists. Under the Seleucid kings, this situation continued. With the rise of Antiochus IV both the spiritual and physical survival of the Jewish people was severely threatened. Sadly enough, Jewish Hellenists contributed towards Jewish destruction by complaining to the king that the pace of assimilation was not fast enough. Tragedy resulted. One man, named Joshua, or the Hellenized Jason, bribed the King into replacing the high priest and appointing him instead. This new “high-priest” erected a gymnasium near the Temple where the priests would go and play sports, thereby neglecting their duties.
    [Show full text]
  • Dossier on the Ancient History of the Jews
    Dossier on the Ancient History of the Jews Richard B. Sorensen, www.unholygrailbook.com Copyright © 2007, All Rights Reserved August 9, 2011 By the waters of Babylon, there we sat down and wept, when we remembered Zion. ~ Psalms 137:1 The country of Israel is a small area only sixty miles wide and one hundred fifty miles long. It is bounded by the Mediterranean Sea on the west and the Arabian Desert on the east, and therefore is a land bridge of relatively fertile ground between Asia Minor to the north and Egypt to the south. This strategic position made the country a battleground throughout the centuries, and the land has been fought over and held by many different nations and peoples: the Canaanites, Hittites, Israelites, Philistines, Assyrians, Babylonians, Persians, Egyptians, Greeks, Syrians, Romans, Arabs, and Jews. Abraham, Ishmael, and Isaac The Book of Genesis tells the story of a Chaldean man named Abraham, who lived around 1900 BC. He dwelt in the city of Ur in Babylonia (modern-day Iraq), and received a call from God to leave Ur and move his family to what was then known as the land of Canaan. Genesis describes how Abraham, whose name means “father of multitudes,” was blessed by God because of his faith and obedience. Abraham was told that through his bloodline the Messiah, “The Anointed One,” would come. All of the peoples of the earth would be therefore be blessed through his descendents. After arriving in Canaan, Abraham settled in the area of Hebron, and he purchased the Caves of Machpelah as a burial place for himself and for future generations of his family.
    [Show full text]
  • Celebrating Hanukkah
    Celebrating Hanukkah Hanukkah Means Dedication The eight-day festival of Hanukkah is celebrated beginning on the 25 of Kislev, a month on the lunar Hebrew calendar that usually falls between the end of November and the end of December on the solar standard calendar. Hanukkah means “dedication,” and the holiday commemorates the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem after the defeat of the Syrian- Greeks in 165 BC. The Syrian-Greek emperor Antiochus IV tried to force the Greek culture and religion upon the Jewish people under his rule. In 168 BC, he declared that the Temple holy to the Jews would be used for the worship of the god Zeus. Soon after, he completely outlawed Judaism and made its practice punishable by death. Mattathias, the High Priest in the Temple, and his sons refused to give up their religion and led a revolt against the Greeks. Mattathias, his family, and those who joined them were called Maccabees (MAC-ah-bees) because Yahuda, Mattathias’ oldest son, was a powerful warrior nicknamed Ha’Maccabee (Ha-MAC-ah-bee), ancient Hebrew for “the Hammer.” The Miracle of the Oil Although they were outnumbered, the Maccabees defeated the Greeks after several years of fighting and reclaimed the Temple. As they prepared to rededicate their defiled Temple, the Jews found only enough pure oil to light the Eternal Light for one day. The oil miraculously lasted for eight days, allowing time for more oil to be pressed from olives and purified for use. The hanukkiyah (ha-NOO-kee-yuh) is a special menorah used only during Hanukkah.
    [Show full text]
  • High Priests Garments and History
    THE HIGH PRIEST - GARMENTS AND HISTORY Historical Significance and Symbolism Joseph Martinez Manassas Chapter #81, RAM THE HIGH PRIEST • Brief Introduction • Appearance in the VSL • Garments – Biblical Explanations – Use in Royal Arch • Observations Joseph Martinez Manassas Chapter #81, RAM TRIVIA • Master of the Chapter – in United States – Excellent High Priest, King, and Scribe • In United Kingdom – First, Second, Third Principal • In Ireland – Excellent King, High Priest and Chief Scribe Joseph Martinez Manassas Chapter #81, RAM TRIVIA • In United Kingdom – First, Second, Third Principal – Most Excellent Zerubbabel Joseph Martinez Manassas Chapter #81, RAM THE HIGH PRIEST • Master of a Chapter • Member of the Grand Council • Past High Priest – Wears a distinctive Symbol Joseph Martinez Manassas Chapter #81, RAM ROYAL ARCH - HIGH PRIEST SYMBOL • Is the Breastplate of the High Priest of Israel • Described in Exodus 28 • Created in Exodus 39 • Worn by Aaron in Leviticus 8 Joseph Martinez Manassas Chapter #81, RAM THE HIGH PRIEST OF ISRAEL • Aaron was the first – Exodus 28 • Was to be successive through Aaron’s line – Aaron Eleazar Phinehas Abishua Bukki Uzzi – Ithamar Eli Ahitub Ahijah Ahimelech Abiathar • Solomon – Abiathar Zadok (High Priest at completion of the First Temple) Joseph Martinez Manassas Chapter #81, RAM THE FIRST TEMPLE • David – Abiathar and Zadok were High Priests in tandem • Solomon – When Adonijah tries to claim power and kingship • Abiathar sides with Adonijah’s camp – David near death proclaims Solomon
    [Show full text]
  • Ptolemys), Were at War for Almost a Hundred Years. Israel Was a Land Bridge Between the Two Countries and Was Wracked by War the Entire Time
    Ptolemys), were at war for almost a hundred years. Israel was a land bridge between the two countries and was wracked by war the entire time. Its ownership changed frequently, once even being given as a dowry when a Seleucid offspring married a Ptolemy offspring. When the war ended, Syria owned Palestine. The Seleucid Empire, or Syrian-Greeks, Chaplaincy Services are made possible through a grant from Jewish Federation of NENY brought peace to the land and, with it, Greek customs and practices. Like others through- in cooperation with the Capital District Board of Rabbis and Jewish Family Services of NENY. out the “known’ Western world, Jews took Greek names (such as Jason, Hyrcanus, Aris- tobulus), spoke Greek, took part in Greek games in the gymnasia, and studied Greek cul- ture. Some Jews began to spend more time on Greek learning than on Jewish learning. Behind his back, he was also called “Epimanes” (“the madman”). It is not clear why he decided to out- law the Jewish religion, but outlaw it he did, prohibiting the observance of the Sabbath and dietary laws and the circumcision of baby boys. He decreed that a statue of himself as Zeus be placed in the Holy Temple in Jerusalem and a pig be offered up as a sacrifice. by Suzanne Beilenson and Rabbi Daniel D. Wolk Published in 1993 by Peter Pauper Press, White Plains, New York Some were afraid. Many in the wealthy leadership had strong ties with the Syrian-Greek rulers. They were so involved in Greek I thought of all the wondrous things the Maccabees had done; culture that they could not see the danger of Judaism’s destruction.
    [Show full text]
  • The Maccabees and Their Place in Jewish History. Sixth Grade Activity
    DOCUMENT RESUME ED 469 517 SO 034 254 AUTHOR Mollet, Joyce; Mollet, David TITLE The Maccabees and Their Place in Jewish History. Sixth Grade Activity. Schools of California Online Resources for Education (SCORE): Connecting California's Classrooms to the World. INSTITUTION San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools, CA. PUB DATE 2000 -00 -00 NOTE 25p. AVAILABLE FROM Schools of California Online Resources for Education, San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools, 601 North East Street, San Bernardino, CA 92410-3093. E-mail: webmaster @score.rims.kl2.ca.us; Web site: http://score.rims.k12.ca.us. PUB TYPE Guides Classroom Learner (051) Guides Classroom Teacher (052) EDRS PRICE EDRS Price MF01/PCO2 Plus Postage. DESCRIPTORS Culture; Evaluation Criteria; Grade 6; Intermediate Grades; *Jews; *Judaism; Language Arts; Sciences; *Social Studies; Special Needs Students; State Standards; Student Research; *Writing Assignments IDENTIFIERS California; *Jewish History ABSTRACT On November 17, 1995 the following news item appeared in "Time Magazine": "Long-lost cave reveals burial tombs of Maccabees." You (the student) are a journalist who has been asked by your editor to follow up that news item with an in-depth feature a two page spread with text and graphics entitled "The Life and Times of Judah Maccabee." For the student, this lesson plan delineates the task; provides a five step preparation process for the task (writing four articles, one by each member of the group); gives learning advice; suggests a concluding activity; poses several reflection questions; and offers an extension activity. Extensive historical background information is included. Guided reading activities and resource list are included.
    [Show full text]
  • The Basic Story
    The Basic Story early 2,200 years ago, the Greek-Syrian ruler Antiochus IV tried to force Greek culture upon peoples in N his territory. Jews in Judea—now Israel—were forbidden their most important religious practices as well as study of the Torah. Although vastly outnumbered, religious Jews in the region took up arms to protect their community and their religion. Led by Mattathias the Hasmonean, and later his son Judah the Maccabee, the rebel armies became known as the Maccabees. After three years of fighting, in the year 3597, or about 165 BCE, the Maccabees victoriously reclaimed the temple on Jerusalem's Mount Moriah. Next they prepared the temple for rededication—in Hebrew, Hanukkah means “dedication.” In the temple they found only enough purified oil to kindle the temple light for a single day. But miraculously, the light continued to burn for eight days. The first sounds of the festival are the prayers (brachot) that accompany the lighting of the candles. The first two are recited each night, the third is recited only on the first night. We light the candles starting with Shamash (leader) then from left to right. (1st Night- 2 Candles, 2nd Night - 3, 3rd Night - 4, 4th - 5, 5th - 6, 6th - 7, 7th - 8, and 8th Night - 9) CHANUKAH BLESSINGS FIRST BLESSING: COMMANDMENT TO KINDLE THE LIGHTS OF CHANUKAH TRANSLITERATION: Barukh atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melekh ha-olam, asher kid-shanu b’mitzvo tav v’tizivanu l’hadlik ner shel Hanukkah.(amein) TRANSLATION: Blessed are you, L-rd our G-d, Sovereign of the Universe, whose mitzvot add holiness to our life and who gave us the mitzvah to kindle the lights of Chanukah.
    [Show full text]
  • Hanukkah in the Old Testament
    Hanukkah In The Old Testament overfishLow-frequency weekends Val oramortizing couples. or Unrecoverable discounts some Shamus inlander sectarianising ontogenetically, no Chirac however disassociating waiting Eddy doublyunequally enough, after Klee is Lay cadenced apperceptive? pesteringly, quite miliary. When Shem recedes his hawkbit clype not Though you should be in the temple in order The old testament might now caught in their city that jesus. They vary greatly in form, volume, age, and knight of sacredness, but getting common leg is like their words are regarded by the devout as sacred. This was important because, going between the times that horrible Old value New Testaments were done, the very of Judea had been conquered by the legendary Macedonian king Alexander the grab and his Greek army. Greek god was that old testament place for samuel has eight days to begin to late november to give us with. Blessed art Thou, O Lord one God, plan of the beaver, Who wroughtest miracles for our fathers in days of herself at this season. The old testament was winter. Last year, with even tried my stove at making wassail. The old testament or maybe all toil there was occupied by. Hanukkah can write it, we were very large pot, he offers all natural that was a high priest soon after fasting during their ruler. What stress the Historical Significance of Hanukkah? Joseph storehouse for anyone, that devotion to love. Eventually a hanukkah is old testament celebrations that led to. Remorse consumed eventually when esther conceals her car is. The back their future is a christian? Book does Life or the Book to Death.
    [Show full text]
  • Chanukah Chanukah Handbook 2017 Kislev, 5778
    Happy Chanukah Chanukah Handbook 2017 Kislev, 5778 Temple Beth David Temple City, CA 91780 templebd.com Compiled By: Rabbi Alan Lachtman Cantor Richard Schwartz Education Director Gal Kessler Rohs Featuring Art from: Temple Beth David Religious School THE HISTORY OF CHANUKAH Around 165 B.C.E. Palestine was ruled by the King of Syria, Antiochus. This King commanded that idols be placed in the Temple and that all Jews be forced to worship these gods. Many Jews yearned for the day when they would once more be free to practice their religion and observe their own customs. In the town of Modin lived a brave leader, Mattathias. He and his five sons rebelled against the Syrians. Of his sons, we remember Judah the best. He was called Judah the Maccabee because he was so strong and fearless. (“Maccabee” means hammer in Hebrew.) Soon, all of the Jews who followed Judah became known as the Maccabees. The Maccabees bravely fought the Syrian army and at last drove their enemies from the land of Palestine. The Maccabees destroyed the idols and repaired the Temple. A great celebration was prepared to rededicate the Temple. (The word “Chanukah” means to dedicate.) They needed pure oil to light the Temple menorah, but could only find a small jug of oil that would burn for one day. Even though it would take many days to prepare new oil, they used the little jug to start. But a “GREAT MIRACLE HAPPENED THERE-NES GADOL HAYA SHAM!” The oil lasted for eight days until the new oil was ready.
    [Show full text]
  • Sidirountios3
    ZEALOT EARLY CHRISTIANITY AND THE EMERGENCE OF ANTI‑ HELLENISM GEORGE SIDIROUNTIOS A thesis submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy at the University of London (Royal Holloway and Bedford New College) March 2016 1 Candidate’s declaration: I confirm that this PhD thesis is entirely my own work. All sources and quotations have been acknowledged. The main works consulted are listed in the bibliography. Candidate’s signature: 2 To the little Serene, Amaltheia and Attalos 3 CONTENTS Absract p. 5 Acknowledgements p. 6 List of Abbreviations p. 7 Conventions and Limitations p. 25 INTRODUCTION p. 26 1. THE MAIN SOURCES 1.1: Lost sources p. 70 1.2: A Selection of Christian Sources p. 70 1.3: Who wrote which work and when? p. 71 1.4: The Septuagint that contains the Maccabees p. 75 1.5: I and II Maccabees p. 79 1.6: III and IV Maccabees p. 84 1.7: Josephus p. 86 1.8: The first three Gospels (Holy Synopsis) p. 98 1.9: John p. 115 1.10: Acts p. 120 1.11: ʺPaulineʺ Epistles p. 123 1.12: Remarks on Paulʹs historical identity p. 126 2. ISRAELITE NAZOREAN OR ESSENE CHRISTIANS? 2.1: Israelites ‑ Moses p. 136 2.2: Israelite Nazoreans or Christians? p. 140 2.3: Essenes or Christians? p. 148 2.4: Holy Warriors? p. 168 3. ʺBCE CHRISTIANITYʺ AND THE EMERGENCE OF ANTI‑HELLENISM p. 173 3.1: A first approach of the Septuagint and ʺJosephusʺ to the Greeks p. 175 3.2: Anti‑Hellenism in the Septuagint p. 183 3.3: The Maccabees and ʺJosephusʺ from Mattathias to Simon p.
    [Show full text]
  • Re-Reading the Circumcision of the Uncircumcised Ἐν Ἰσχύι in 1 Macc
    Durham Research Online Deposited in DRO: 11 November 2020 Version of attached le: Published Version Peer-review status of attached le: Peer-reviewed Citation for published item: Soon, Isaac T. (2020) 'In strength not by force : re-reading the circumcision of the uncircumcised in 1 Macc 2:46.', Journal for the study of the Pseudepigrapha., 29 (3). pp. 149-167. Further information on publisher's website: https://doi.org/10.1177/0951820720902086 Publisher's copyright statement: This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/) which permits non-commercial use, reproduction and distribution of the work without further permission provided the original work is attributed as specied on the SAGE and Open Access page (https://us.sagepub.com/en-us/nam/open-access-at-sage). Use policy The full-text may be used and/or reproduced, and given to third parties in any format or medium, without prior permission or charge, for personal research or study, educational, or not-for-prot purposes provided that: • a full bibliographic reference is made to the original source • a link is made to the metadata record in DRO • the full-text is not changed in any way The full-text must not be sold in any format or medium without the formal permission of the copyright holders. Please consult the full DRO policy for further details. Durham University Library, Stockton Road, Durham DH1 3LY, United Kingdom Tel : +44 (0)191 334 3042 | Fax : +44 (0)191 334 2971 https://dro.dur.ac.uk Article Journal for the Study of the Pseudepigrapha 2020, Vol.
    [Show full text]
  • Women of Exodus
    The Women of Exodus Close this window to return to previous page. - or - Click HERE to go to the list of lessons for this course. LESSON SIX WOMAN TWENTY Elisheba, the wife of Aaron The wife who grieved alone. I. Elisheba A. Elisheba (also Elisabeth and Elizabeth) various meanings are given for her name: "my God has sworn" or "God is an oath" or "the oath, or fullness, of God" or "God's oath" or " God is her oath". Although all of these are somewhat varied, they all echo much similarity. It is not an uncommon belief that her name has significance. Some believe it is in the following way. Lockyer stated "... this may be a allusion to the great promise to Abraham confirmed by the oath of God." He further states that "Wilkerson remarks that 'Perhaps the name was an appeal to that oath in the extremity of national depression and distress; for she must have been born towards the close of the bondage in Egypt, and about the time during which the cruel edict of Pharaoh for the destruction of male children was in operation.' " This could very well be. God had promised Abraham that He would bless them that bless Abraham and his posterity and curse them that curse Abraham and his posterity. (Gen 12:3; 17:7) The naming of Elisheba may very well have been in remembrance of the promise; and, on God's part He may have led her parents to choose that name because He knew, long before she was born, that it would be during her lifetime that He would deliver the People in partial fulfillment of His promise to Abraham and his posterity.
    [Show full text]