Tuesday, 30 November 2010

The Hanukkah I Hanukkah II Hypothesis - The Questions

Originally published 11/30/10, 1:06 pm.
Hanukkah is mentioned in the following texts
• Maccabees I + II
• Josephus
Al Hanissim
Megillat Taaanit
Yet the Miracle of the Oil is omitted, excepting the Scholion of the Megillat Taanit.
Questions
• Why is there no mention of the Miracle of Oil in the above?
• How is it that the Mishnah does not treat the Laws of Hanukkah at all? It merely mentions Hanukkah in passing - EG Ner Hanukkah in Bava Kama.
• Without the Miracle of the Oil, how did Hanukkah get to be Eight Days Long?
• Given the Absence of the Mizbei'ach why do we still celebrate Hanukkah Nowadays?
• Why is it the Bavli that first mentions the miracle of the oil?

Shalom,
RRW

2 comments:

JudahM said...

What about מגילת אנטיוכוס?

The miracle of the oil is mentioned explicitly in that ancient and Jewish source. So why are you so worried about the non-Jewish sources?

Nishma said...

Mgilatt Antiyochus is a very late document. Maybe circa 800 CE

RRW