Cleansing and dedication of the temple

³⁶ At that time Judas and his brothers said, “Look, our enemies have been crushed. Let’s go up to cleanse and rededicate the sanctuary.” ³⁷ All the army gathered together and went up to Mount Zion.

⁵² They rose early in the morning of the twenty-fifth day of the ninth month, the month of Kislev.^[a] It was the year 148. ⁵³ They offered sacrifice, following the Law, on the new altar for entirely burned offerings that they had made. ⁵⁴ In the very season, on the exact day that the Gentiles had polluted it, it was dedicated with songs, harps, lutes, and cymbals. ⁵⁵ All the people bowed to the ground and worshipped and blessed heaven, which had given them success.

⁵⁶ So they celebrated the rededication of the altar for eight days and joyfully made entirely burned offerings. They offered a sacrifice of deliverance and praise. ⁵⁷ They decorated the front of the temple with gold crowns and small shields. They restored the gates and the priests’ chambers, furnishing them with doors. ⁵⁸ The people were extremely glad, and the disgrace the Gentiles brought was lifted.

⁵⁹ Then Judas, with his brothers and all the assembly of Israel, laid down a law that every year at that season the dedication of the altar should be observed with joy and happiness for eight days, beginning with the twenty-fifth day of Kislev.^[b]

Psalm 113

Psalm 122

A pilgrimage song. Of David.

Jesus clears the temple

⁴⁵ When Jesus entered the temple, he threw out those who were selling things there. ⁴⁶ He said to them, “It’s written, My house will be a house of prayer, but you have made it a hideout for crooks.”^[a]

⁴⁷ Jesus was teaching daily in the temple. The chief priests, the legal experts, and the foremost leaders among the people were seeking to kill him. ⁴⁸ However, they couldn’t find a way to do it because all the people were enthralled with what they heard.