The Sages detailed the number of Hanukkah lights one must kindle and where they should be placed. They disagreed whether one light should be added each day, or one light should be subtracted each day.

The basic mitzva of Hanukkah is to have one light kindled by a person for himself and his household each day. And the mehadrin, those who are meticulous in the performance of mitzvot, kindle a light for each person in the household. And the mehadrin min hamehadrin, those who are even more meticulous, add a light for each and every person on each night.

Beit Shammai say: On the first day one kindles eight lights and, from then on, one gradually decreases the number of lights by one each day. And Beit Hillel say: On the first day one kindles one light, and from then on, one gradually increases the number of lights until, on the last day, he kindles eight lights.

There were two elders in Tzaidan. One acted in accordance with the opinion of Beit Shammai, and one acted in accordance with the opinion of Beit Hillel. Each gave a reason for his claim. One said it is like the bulls of the festival of Sukkot, and one said: One elevates in matters of sanctity and one does not downgrade.

The mitzva of kindling the Hanukkah lights is from sunset until traffic in the marketplace ceases. And it is a mitzva to place the Hanukkah lights at the entrance to one’s house on the outside. If one lives upstairs, he places it at the window near the public domain. If he is afraid of the gentiles, he puts it at the entrance to his house on the inside. In time of danger, he places it on the table and that is sufficient to fulfill his obligation. (Megillat Ta’anit 9)