GordoZone

Just imagine: the euphoria of yesterday’s victory still radiates throughout your people.

There is still the dead to tend to, and there are likely some skirmishes here and there occupying some of the warriors on the outskirts of the territory.

You are outside of the temple, and you know that there isn’t enough oil to keep the menorah burning for eight days without ceasing.  The flame should remain lit, but no one could find any additional purified oil.

You privately curse the enemy under your breath.  There is plenty of oil around, but they intentionally defiled it.  Since to their minds there was no advantage to “pure” olive oil, they defiled all the oil (plus the various vessels) to insure that the Temple service would be reduced to a cultural event as opposed to a religious connection to G0d.

As you assume the flame’s resources draw to an end, you secretly feel a little bit of pleasure in any pain that you caused the enemy.  It’s like they have defiled the temple all over.

You imagine the priests return to the vial in an attempt to extract any drops they can to extend the life of the flame for as long as possible, or maybe they’re carefully apportioning an additional eighth of a vial to burn the flame for at least a portion of today.

You hear cries of surprise, peals of joy and astonishment.

A priest comes within earshot and proclaims that, much to the dismay of everyone, that the flame still burns continuously and still with some reserve fuel.

Well, now, that’s interesting.  The vial must have been a little bigger than they thought.  Maybe the oil is especially pure and robust, so it burns slower — wait, that doesn’t quite make sense.  Hmmm…

Well, given the events of the past day or so, you just chalk it up to icing on the cake for your victory.  It’s kind of neat, like a minor little miracle, to have the oil last a little longer than it should.  Praise God.

You say your prayers and wind down for the evening.  All feels right for one more day as the temple stays in proper order for a little while longer.

Maybe you’ll yet find some purified oil somewhere to make it all last yet even another full day.  It won’t be too long now before the new oil is ready.  A week, you think.  Still, it rubs you that the flame will be dark for a period beforehand.

Rest now, as there is much work to be done tomorrow. 

Shalom.