Chapter 4 is the climactic center of 1 Maccabees: Judas defeats Gorgias at Emmaus through brilliant tactics, then crushes Lysias at Beth-zur. He then leads the purification and rededication of the Temple — the event commemorated as Hanukkah. The chapter concludes with the establishment of an eight-day festival beginning on the twenty-fifth of Kislev.
Verses 36-59, describing the Temple rededication, are the primary source text for Hanukkah. The discovery of the defiled altar, the decision to store its stones 'until a prophet should come' (v. 46), the kindling of the new altar, and the eight-day celebration — all originate here. The passage is remarkable for its restraint: no miracle of oil is mentioned (that tradition appears later in the Talmud, Shabbat 21b).
The decision about the defiled altar stones (v. 46) — storing them until a prophet should come to decide — reveals that the Maccabees did not consider themselves prophets and acknowledged unresolved religious questions that only future divine guidance could settle. This humility contrasts with their later assumption of both priestly and royal authority.
The Temple rededication parallels Solomon's dedication (1 Kings 8) and the post-exilic rededication (Ezra 6:16-18). The eight-day celebration echoes Solomon's eight-day feast (2 Chronicles 7:8-9). Jesus attended Hanukkah in Jerusalem (John 10:22-23), and his Temple cleansing (John 2:13-17) invokes the same purification theology.
et adsumpsit Gorgias quinque milia virorum et mille equites electos et moverunt castra nocte
Gorgias took five thousand infantry and a thousand chosen cavalry, and they moved their camp by night.
ut adplicarent ad castra Iudaeorum et percuterent eos subito et filii qui erant ex arce erant illis duces
Their plan was to fall upon the camp of the Jews and strike them suddenly. Men from the citadel served as their guides.
et audivit Iudas et surrexit ipse et potentes percutere virtutem exercituum regis qui erat in Ammaum
But Judas heard of it and moved out with his warriors to strike the king's army at Emmaus,
adhuc dum dispersus erat exercitus a castris
while the army was still scattered away from the camp.
et venit Gorgias in castra Iudae noctu et neminem invenit et quaerebat eos in montibus quoniam dixit fugiunt hii a nobis
Gorgias came to Judas's camp by night but found no one. He searched for them in the mountains, saying: 'These men are fleeing from us.'
et cum dies factus esset apparuit Iudas in campo cum tribus milibus virorum tantum qui tegumenta et gladios non habebant
At daybreak, Judas appeared on the plain with three thousand men — though they had neither armor nor swords.
et viderunt castra gentium valida et loricatos et equitatus in circuitu eorum et hii docti ad proelium
They saw the camp of the Gentiles, strong and well-armored, with cavalry around them — and these were men trained for war.
Professionally equipped soldiers with body armor — the contrast with the Maccabees' lack of armor is pointed
et ait Iudas viris qui secum erant ne timueritis multitudinem eorum et impetum eorum ne formidetis
Judas said to the men with him: 'Do not fear their numbers, and do not dread their charge.'
mementote qualiter salvi facti sunt patres nostri in mari Rubro cum sequeretur eos Pharao cum exercitu multo
Remember how our fathers were saved at the Red Sea, when Pharaoh pursued them with a great army.
The Exodus paradigm — the foundational story of divine deliverance against impossible military odds
et nunc clamemus in caelum et miserebitur nostri Dominus et memor erit testamenti patrum nostrorum et conteret exercitum istum ante faciem nostram hodie
Now let us cry out to heaven, and the Lord will have mercy on us and remember the covenant of our fathers, and He will crush this army before us today.
The appeal to God's covenant faithfulness — if God remembers His covenant, He must act to preserve His covenant people
et scient omnes gentes quia est qui redimat et liberet Israhel
And all the nations will know that there is One who redeems and delivers Israel.
Redemption and liberation — covenantal vocabulary applied to military deliverance
et elevaverunt alienigenae oculos suos et viderunt eos venientes ex adverso
The foreigners raised their eyes and saw them advancing against them.
et exierunt de castris in proelium et tubis cecinerunt hii qui erant cum Iuda
They marched out of the camp to battle, and those with Judas sounded the trumpets.
et congressi sunt et contritae sunt gentes et fugerunt in campum
They engaged, and the Gentiles were crushed and fled to the plain.
novissimi autem omnes ceciderunt in gladio et persecuti sunt eos usque Gazeron et usque in campos Idumaeae et Azoti et Iamniae et ceciderunt ex illis usque ad tria milia virorum
Those in the rear all fell by the sword. They pursued them as far as Gezer, to the plains of Idumea, Azotus, and Jamnia. About three thousand of the enemy fell.
Ancient Canaanite city on the Aijalon Valley route; major fortified position in the lowlands
et reversus est Iudas et exercitus eius ab insequendo post eos
Then Judas and his army turned back from pursuing them.
et dixit ad populum non concupiscatis spolia quia bellum contra nos est
He said to the people: 'Do not be greedy for spoils, for there is still a battle ahead of us.'
et Gorgias et exercitus eius prope nos in monte sed state nunc contra inimicos nostros et expugnate eos et postea sumetis spolia securi
Gorgias and his army are near us in the mountains. Stand now against our enemies and fight them, and afterward you shall take the spoils in safety.
et adhuc loquente Iuda haec apparuit pars quaedam prospiciens de monte
While Judas was still speaking, a detachment appeared, looking down from the mountain.
et vidierunt quod in fugam conversi sunt sui et incensum castra ipsorum fumus enim qui videbatur declarabat quod factum est
They saw that their own forces had been routed and that the camp was burning — for the smoke that was visible made clear what had happened.
quibus illi conspectis timuerunt valde adspicientes autem et Iudam et exercitum in campo paratum ad proelium
When they beheld this, they were terrified — and when they saw Judas and his army drawn up on the plain, ready for battle,
fugerunt omnes in campum alienigenarum
they all fled to the land of the foreigners.
et reversus est Iudas ad diripiendam castra et acceperunt aurum multum et argentum et hyacinthum et purpuram marinam et opes magnas
Then Judas turned back to plunder the camp. They took much gold and silver, blue and purple cloth from the sea, and great riches.
Expensive Tyrian dye products — blue (hyacinth) and sea-purple; markers of extreme wealth
et conversi hymnum canebant et benedicebant Deum in caelum quoniam bonus quoniam in saeculum misericordia eius
Returning, they sang hymns and blessed God in heaven, 'for He is good, for His mercy endures forever.'
Psalm 136:1; the liturgical refrain used at Temple dedications (2 Chronicles 5:13, 7:3) — anticipating the rededication to come
et facta est salus magna in Israhel in die illa
Great deliverance came to Israel on that day.
Salus encompasses both military victory and spiritual salvation — the rescue has both dimensions
quicumque autem alienigenarum evaserunt venerunt et nuntiaverunt Lysiae universa quae acciderant
Those foreigners who escaped went and reported to Lysias everything that had happened.
quibus ille auditis consternatus animo deficiebat quod non qualia voluit talia contigerunt in Israhel et qualia mandavit rex
When he heard this, he was dismayed and disheartened, because things had not gone as he wished concerning Israel, and the outcome was not what the king had commanded.
et sequenti anno congregavit Lysias electorum virorum sexaginta milia et equitum quinque milia ut debellaret eos
The following year, Lysias gathered sixty thousand chosen infantry and five thousand cavalry to subdue them.
et venerunt in Idumaeam et castra posuerunt in Bethsura et occurrit illis Iudas cum decem milibus viris
They came into Idumea and encamped at Beth-zur, and Judas met them with ten thousand men.
Strategic fortress town on the southern frontier of Judah; controls the approach from Idumea
et vidit exercitum fortem et oravit et dixit benedictus es salvator Israhel qui contrivisti impetum potentis in manu servi tui David et tradidisti castra alienigenarum in manu Ionathae filii Saul et armigeri eius
He saw the powerful army and prayed: 'Blessed are You, Savior of Israel, who crushed the attack of the mighty one by the hand of Your servant David, and delivered the camp of the foreigners into the hand of Jonathan son of Saul and his armor-bearer.'
A divine title emphasizing God's role as military deliverer — the same God who saved through David and Jonathan will save through Judas
conclude exercitum istum in manu populi tui Israhel et confundantur in exercitu suo et equitibus suis
Hem in this army by the hand of Your people Israel, and let them be put to shame — their infantry and their cavalry alike.
da illis formidinem et tabefac audaciam virtutis eorum et commoveantur contritione sua
Strike them with dread, melt the boldness of their strength, and let them tremble at their own destruction.
deice illos gladio diligentium te et conlaudent te omnes qui noverunt nomen tuum in hymnis
Cast them down by the sword of those who love You, and let all who know Your name praise You with hymns.
et commiserunt proelium et ceciderunt de exercitu Lysiae quinque milia virorum et prostraverunt eos contra se
They joined battle, and five thousand men of Lysias's army fell — they were struck down right before them.
videns autem Lysias suorum fugam et Iudaeorum audaciam et quod parati sunt aut vivere aut mori fortiter abiit Antiochiam et elegit milites ut multiplicati rursus venirent in Iudaeam
When Lysias saw the rout of his own forces and the boldness of the Jews — that they were prepared either to live or to die bravely — he withdrew to Antioch and recruited soldiers, planning to return to Judea with an even larger force.
dixit autem Iudas et fratres eius ecce contriti sunt inimici nostri eamus nunc emundare sancta et renovare
Then Judas and his brothers said: 'Behold, our enemies are crushed. Let us now go up to cleanse the sanctuary and rededicate it.'
The dual purpose: ritual purification and fresh dedication — the action that gives Hanukkah (Dedication) its name
et congregatus est omnis exercitus et ascenderunt in montem Sion
The whole army assembled and went up to Mount Zion.
The Temple Mount — the return to Zion after the desecration
et viderunt sanctificationem desertam et altare profanatum et portas exustas et in atriis virgulta nata sicut in saltu vel in montibus et pastoforia diruta
They saw the sanctuary laid waste, the altar profaned, the gates burned, shrubs growing in the courts as in a forest or on a hillside, and the priests' chambers torn down.
The auxiliary rooms used by priests for robing, storage, and preparation of offerings
et sciderunt vestimenta sua et planxerunt planctu magno et imposuerunt cinerem super caput suum
They tore their garments and mourned with great lamentation, and put ashes on their heads.
et ceciderunt in faciem super terram et exclamaverunt tubis signorum et clamaverunt in caelum
They fell face down to the ground, sounded the signal trumpets, and cried out to heaven.
tunc ordinavit Iudas viros ut pugnarent adversus eos qui erant in arce donec emundarent sancta
Then Judas appointed men to fight against those in the citadel while he cleansed the sanctuary.
et elegit sacerdotes sine macula voluntatem habentes in lege Dei
He chose priests who were without blemish and devoted to the Law of God.
Both ritually and morally unblemished — they had not participated in pagan worship
et mundaverunt sancta et tulerunt lapides contaminationis in locum immundum
They cleansed the sanctuary and removed the stones of defilement to an unclean place.
The altar stones on which pagan sacrifice had been offered — they are permanently contaminated
et cogitavit de altari holocaustorum quod profanatum erat quid de eo faceret
He deliberated about the altar of burnt offering that had been profaned — what should be done with it.
The great outdoor altar where the abomination of desolation had been erected
et incidit illi consilium bonum ut destrueret illud ne forte illis esset in obprobrium quia contaminaverunt illud gentes et demoliti sunt illud
A good plan occurred to him: they should tear it down, lest it become a reproach to them because the nations had defiled it. So they demolished it.
et reposuerunt lapides in monte domus in loco apto quoadusque veniret propheta et responderet de eis
They stored the stones on the Temple mount in a suitable place, until a prophet should come and decide what to do with them.
A key admission: prophetic authority has ceased and only a future prophet can resolve certain religious questions. This expectation influenced messianic hope.
et acceperunt lapides integros secundum legem et aedificaverunt altare novum secundum illud quod fuit prius
They took unhewn stones, according to the Law, and built a new altar like the one that had been there before.
Exodus 20:25 — no iron tool may touch altar stones; obedience to Torah governs even the reconstruction
et aedificaverunt sancta et quae intra domum erant intrinsecus et aedem et atria sanctificaverunt
They rebuilt the sanctuary and the interior of the Temple, and they consecrated the courts.
et fecerunt vasa sancta nova et intulerunt candelabrum et altare incensorum et mensam in templum
They made new sacred vessels and brought the lampstand, the altar of incense, and the table into the Temple.
The menorah — its relighting is the act most associated with Hanukkah in later tradition
et incenderunt super altare et accenderunt lucernas quae super candelabrum erant et lucebant in templo
They burned incense on the altar and lit the lamps on the lampstand, and they gave light in the Temple.
The menorah lamps; their relighting symbolizes the return of divine presence and proper worship
et posuerunt super mensam panes et adpenderunt vela et consummaverunt omnia opera quae fecerant
They placed the bread on the table, hung the curtains, and completed all the work they had undertaken.
The showbread (bread of the Presence) — twelve loaves representing the twelve tribes, renewed weekly
et ante matutinum surrexerunt quinta et vicesima die mensis noni hic est mensis casleu centesimi quadragesimi octavi anni
They rose before dawn on the twenty-fifth day of the ninth month — which is the month of Kislev — in the one hundred and forty-eighth year.
25 Kislev = the date of Hanukkah; exactly three years after the desecration, to the day
et obtulerunt sacrificium secundum legem super altare holocaustorum novum quod fecerunt
They offered sacrifice according to the Law on the new altar of burnt offering that they had built.
secundum tempus et secundum diem in qua contaminaverunt illud gentes in ipsa die renovatum est in canticis et citharis et lyris et cymbalis
At the very same time and on the very same day that the nations had profaned it, on that day it was rededicated — with songs, harps, lyres, and cymbals.
Renovatio — renewal/rededication; the Hebrew equivalent is hanukkah, 'dedication'
et cecidit omnis populus in faciem et adoraverunt et benedixerunt in caelum eum qui prosperavit eis
All the people fell on their faces and worshiped, and blessed Heaven — the One who had given them success.
et fecerunt dedicationem altaris diebus octo et obtulerunt holocausta cum laetitia et sacrificium salutaris et laudis
They celebrated the dedication of the altar for eight days, and offered burnt offerings with gladness, and sacrifices of deliverance and praise.
The eight-day celebration that becomes the festival of Hanukkah (Dedication); parallels Solomon's eight-day feast
et ornaverunt faciem templi coronis aureis et scutulis et dedicaverunt portas et pastoforia et imposuerunt eis ianuas
They adorned the front of the Temple with golden crowns and shields, and rededicated the gates and the priests' chambers, fitting them with doors.
et facta est laetitia in populo magna valde et aversum est obprobrium gentium
There was very great rejoicing among the people, and the reproach of the nations was removed.
et statuit Iudas et fratres eius et universa ecclesia Israhel ut agatur dies dedicationis altaris in temporibus suis ab anno in annum per dies octo a quinta et vicesima die mensis casleu cum laetitia et gaudio
Then Judas, his brothers, and the whole assembly of Israel decreed that the days of the dedication of the altar should be observed at their appointed time, year after year, for eight days beginning on the twenty-fifth of the month of Kislev, with gladness and joy.
The formal institution of Hanukkah — an eight-day festival of joy, decreed by Judas and the assembly of Israel
et aedificaverunt in tempore illo montem Sion et per circuitum muros altos et turres firmas nequando venirent gentes et conculcarent eum sicut fecerunt antea
At that time they fortified Mount Zion with high walls and strong towers all around, so that the nations could never again come and trample it as they had done before.
et collocavit illic exercitum ut servarent eum et munivit eum ad custodiendum Bethsuram ut haberet populus munitionem contra faciem Idumaeae
He stationed a garrison there to guard it, and he fortified Beth-zur as well, so that the people would have a stronghold facing Idumea.