1. Goldstein argues that, because the high priest had been locked up in
custody, the Council of Elders had not met during the war, so the 2 intercalations of
extra months that they should have made in 167/166 and 165/164 were missing.
(The legend of the barley illustrates
the way the High Priest might have worked).
2. Antiochus may have specifically forbidden the Jews to make their
intercalations,
(Daniel 7:25 says, "He shall think to change times
and laws").
Goldstein says the rededication of the Temple
altar, 25 Kislev, therefore took place on October 16th 164 BCE.
Apart from the intercalation issue, was this really the date? The books
of Maccabees contain contradictions.
