The history of the eight days of dedication
1 When Judas had put to flight Ptolemy, and Nicanor, and Gorgias, and had slain their men; he himself and his troops returned into the country” of the holy house.
2 And he commanded all the altars to be destroyed which Antiochus had ordered to be built:
3 and he removed all the idols which were in the sanctuary: and they built up a new altar, and he commanded sacrifices to be offered upon that.
4 They prayed also to the great and good God, that He would bring forth the holy fire which might remain upon the altar:
5 and fire came out from some stones of the altar, and burned up the wood and the sacrifices; and from it fire continued on the altar until the third carrying into captivity’.
6 And then they kept the festival of the new altar for eight days, beginning on the twenty-fifth day of the month Casleu.
7 And then they placed bread on the table of the house of God, and lighted the lamps of the candlestick.
8 And on each of these eight days they assembled together for prayer and praise: and moreover they appointed it an ordinance for every year to come.