The Jewish festival of Hanukkah is based on real historical events — the Maccabean Revolt of 167-160 BCE. In today's episode, Helen and Dave travel back to a time when Judaea was ruled by the Hellenized (Greek) Seleucid Empire. When a Jewish priest named Mattathias refused to make a sacrifice to the pagan gods, it sparked a violent revolution led by Judah "The Hammer" Maccabee. 

Learn More About Hanukkah at Bible Odyssey

• Hanukkah
• Maccabees
• The Commemoration of War in Early Jewish Festivals
• Life Under Empire

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Theme music written and performed by Dave Roos