Albert Barnes Commentary John 10:22

"And it was the feast of the dedication at Jerusalem:" — John 10:22 (ASV)

The feast of the dedication. Literally, the feast of the renewing, or of the renovation. This feast was instituted by Judas Maccabaeus in the year 164 B.C. The temple and city were taken by Antiochus Epiphanes in the year 167 B.C. He killed forty thousand inhabitants, and sold forty thousand more as slaves.

In addition to this, he sacrificed a sow on the altar of burnt-offerings, and after a broth was made from this, he sprinkled it all over the temple. The city and temple were recovered three years afterward by Judas Maccabaeus, and the temple was purified with great pomp and solemnity. The ceremony of purification continued for eight days, during which Judas presented magnificent victims, and celebrated the praise of God with hymns and psalms (Josephus, Antiquities, Book 12, Chapter 11).

They also decked the forefront of the temple with crowns of gold and with shields, and the gates and chambers they renewed and hung doors on them . For this reason, it was called the feast of renovation or dedication. Josephus calls it the feast of lights, because the city was illuminated as an expression of joy. The feast began on the twenty-fifth day of Chisleu, corresponding to the fifteenth day of December. The festival continued for eight days, with continued demonstrations of joy.

It was winter. The feast was celebrated in the winter. The word here implies that it was cold and inclement, and this is given as a reason why he walked in Solomon’s porch.

Solomon’s porch. This was the porch or covered way on the east of the temple. See Barnes on Matthew 21:12.