Which haftarah book is read on the Shabbat of Hanukkah?

The haftarah book read on the Shabbat of Hanukkah is Zechariah. The customary reading is Zechariah 2:14–4:7, a passage featuring a vision of a golden menorah and a message that success comes “not by might, nor by power,” but by divine spirit.

The choice fits Hanukkah because Zechariah prophesied during the rebuilding of the Second Temple after the Babylonian destruction. His vision encourages Zerubbabel, the governor, and Joshua, the high priest, as they restore Jewish worship. The menorah imagery links the prophetic reading with Hanukkah’s central symbol of sacred light.

A common mix-up is confusing the book with the weekly Torah portion. The Torah reading for Hanukkah comes from Numbers 7 and describes the offerings brought at the dedication of the Tabernacle; Zechariah supplies the haftarah. When Hanukkah includes two Shabbatot, communities generally use a second reading from 1 Kings 7, about the Temple’s furnishings.