THE NINTH MONTH KISLEV - A MONTH OF REDEDICATION & RENEWAL.

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The Ninth Month, KISLEV, (sometimes also rendered CHISLEU, or CASLEU) in the MOSAIC CALENDAR, (that starts in the month Nisan, which this year, 2020 commenced in March); or the third month of the CIVIL CALENDAR that commenced, last month, (ie: in the month, Tisrei/Ethanim).

 

Amongst events that occured in this month for our people, perhaps, the most auspicious and important, were the breaking of ground, or start of construction to re-build the Second Temple on 24th of this month, as well as renewal of God’s promise and covenant both to Zerrubabel their Governor and master builder, & Israel, see Hag 2:10-end; 

“Consider now from this day and upward, from the four and twentieth day of the ninth month”, (8th DEC 2020), “even from the day that the foundation of the Lord’s Temple was laid, consider it…From this day will I bless you”  Hag 2:18, 19

It also marks the RE-DEDICATION OF THE SECOND TEMPLE, some generations later, under occupation of Israel by the Greeks/Seleucids, as I explain below, it would be to this Temple, that Christ would return.  A brief history…

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THE PURIFICATION OR REDEDICATION OF TEMPLE TO TRUE WORSHIP, CELEBRATED ON 25TH DAY OF CASLEU, (1 Macc 1:18, 1 Macc 4:59)

This month also marks the culmination of a long battle fought by a notable Black Hebrew Israelite general, ARISTOBULUS, A WARRIOR PRIEST of the lineage of Levi, to RESTORE TRUE WORSHIP TO THE TEMPLE AT JERUSALEM, after it had been DESECRATED by Antiochus Epiphanes, a Greek, who forcibly entered the temple and SACRIFICED A SOW UPON IT’S ALTAR, in an attempt to compel Hebrews to submit to Greek(/Seleucid) colonialization and culture. This was

 

An abomination that maketh desolate,

 

and illustrates that this prophecy which many believe to be futuristic also, according to Dan 11:31 already occurred in the past).  Aristobulus, who defeated the Greek/Seleucid empire, incidentally was brother to JUDAS, “THE HAMMER” MACCABEAS, so named because of his LION-LIKE MASCULINITY, FAITH and ANOINTING both in SPIRITUAL WARFARE, and ingenious STRATEGIES FOR (physical) BATTLE, which were successful in their defeating multitudes when vastly out-numbered, and out-armed, (see 2 Macc 2:21).  A summary of his conclusive battle and victory is given in 2 Macc 1:10-17.

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The Festival of the Feast of the Dedication

This festival which was commanded to be kept as a time of celebration and feasting for 8 days, from 25th of Casleu/Kislev (in 1 Macc 4:59) ie: FROM 9TH – 17TH DEC 2020, is popularly called by the Greek term, ‘Hannukah’ today, however, this term cannot be found in the scriptures.  The Bible more simply referring to it in John 10:22 as, the FEAST OF THE DEDICATION.

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RESTORATION OF HOLY FIRE & LIGHT TO THE TEMPLE

However, what is more remarkable, is how LIGHT AND THE HOLY FIRE WAS RESTORED TO THE TEMPLE’S ALTAR once again.  2 Macc 1:19 tells us that a number of devout Priests took the Holy Fire from the altar, and hid it in a hollow pit without water, before they were carried away into the Babylonian captivity, (2 Macc 1:19) the secret of the location of this pit, was maintained by their posterity, led by a devout Priest called Neemias, (2 Macc 1:20), who after the end of the 70 years captivity and cleansing of their temple, was able to find the same pit.  However, they found no fire there, but thick water, which when they took and sprinkled over the sacrifice on the altar, re-ignited the flame of the altar once again, v22 tells us a v “GREAT FIRE WAS KINDLED SO THAT EVERY MAN MARVELLED”.  The remainder of that chapter explains their prayer of renewal for the nation, and re-dedication of their Temple, which they had fought so hard to RESTORE, Just as we must fight for our SALVATION today to set aside sin, and renew our commitment to SERVE AND FOLLOW CHRIST.

 

There are so many wonderful events that took place historically in this month, too numerous to mention here.  I’ll give 1 other brief example only …

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40 DAYS RAIN OF NOAH’S FLOOD ENDED ON 27th KISLEV (/11th DEC 2020)
40 days of rains of Noah's Flood, which according to Gen 7:11 started on 17th day of the second month, Chesvan (1st Nov 2020) in 600th year of Noah’s life, and fell for 40 days until 27th of this month KISLEV.

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