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Zechariah 3

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The Vision of Joshua and Satan 1–5

1
And he shewed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him. ​
2
And the LORD said unto Satan, The LORD rebuke thee, O Satan; even the LORD that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee: is not this a brand plucked out of the fire? ​
3
Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and stood before the angel. ​
4
And he answered and spake unto those that stood before him, saying, Take away the filthy garments from him. And unto him he said, Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with change of raiment. ​
5
And I said, Let them set a fair mitre upon his head. So they set a fair mitre upon his head, and clothed him with garments. And the angel of the LORD stood by. ​

A Charge to the Restored Priest 6–7

6
And the angel of the LORD protested unto Joshua, saying,
7
Thus saith the LORD of hosts; If thou wilt walk in my ways, and if thou wilt keep my charge, then thou shalt also judge my house, and shalt also keep my courts, and I will give thee places to walk among these that stand by. ​

The Promise of the Branch 8–10

8
Hear now, O Joshua the high priest, thou, and thy fellows that sit before thee: for they are men wondered at: for, behold, I will bring forth my servant the BRANCH. ​
9
For behold the stone that I have laid before Joshua; upon one stone shall be seven eyes: behold, I will engrave the graving thereof, saith the LORD of hosts, and I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day. ​
10
In that day, saith the LORD of hosts, shall ye call every man his neighbour under the vine and under the fig tree. ​

Bible text: King James Version (1769 Blayney text) · Public domain

Study Notes for Zechariah 3

Verse 1

Satan standing at his right hand — Satan is 'the adversary'; the verb 'to resist' (satan) is from the same root. The accuser's place at the right hand is that of Ps 109:6, 'let Satan stand at his right hand'. The 'accuser of our brethren' is named in Rev 12:10.

Verse 2

The LORD rebuke thee — Ga'ar, to rebuke, said twice. The answer rests on God's choice of the city (bachar, 'hath chosen'), not on Joshua's record. Michael uses the same words in Jude 9, 'The Lord rebuke thee'. The 'brand' (ud) is a stick snatched from the fire (cf. Amos 4:11).

Verse 3

filthy garments — Tso'ah, soiled, as if excrement-stained: stronger than mere dirt. Joshua stands in them 'before the angel'. Isaiah uses the same figure of Israel's best efforts: 'all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags' (Isa 64:6). The vision shows him as he stands before God, not as men see him.

Verse 4

I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee — Abar, to cause to cross over, with avon, iniquity. The garments are removed by word of command, then 'change of raiment' (machalatsah, a mantle or changeable suit of apparel) is given. Isaiah speaks of the same exchange: 'garments of salvation… robe of righteousness' (Isa 61:10).

Verse 5

a fair mitre — Tsaniph is the wrapped turban; 'fair' is tahor, clean or pure. The high priest's gold plate bore 'HOLINESS TO THE LORD' (Ex 28:36). The prophet himself asks, 'Let them set a fair mitre', and the angel of the LORD stands by while it is done.

Verse 7

If thou wilt walk in my ways — The promise is conditional: obedience ('keep my charge', mishmereth, a watch or post) brings rule over the temple, 'my house', and its 'courts'. The 'places to walk' (mahlek) are access among 'these that stand by', as the priests of Zadok 'shall come near to me' (Ezek 44:15).

Verse 8

my servant the BRANCH — Tsemach, a sprout, the title of the coming king: 'I will raise unto David a righteous Branch' (Jer 23:5). Zechariah uses it again at 6:12, 'Behold the man whose name is The BRANCH', who 'shall build the temple'. Joshua and his fellows are 'men wondered at' (mopheth), signs pointing to him.

Verse 9

upon one stone shall be seven eyes — The stone is laid 'before Joshua', and the LORD himself engraves it. The seven are called 'the eyes of the LORD' in Zech 4:10. The stone is a figure Scripture applies to Christ: 'a tried stone, a precious corner stone' (Isa 28:16). Iniquity is removed 'in one day'.

Verse 10

under the vine and under the fig tree — The picture of settled peace in the land: 'every man under his vine and under his fig tree' in Solomon's days (1 Kings 4:25), and promised again, 'none shall make them afraid' (Mic 4:4). Here it follows the removal of iniquity (v.9), and neighbours 'call' one another to share it.