Zechariah

I was further shown Joshua, the high priest, standing before the angel of GOD, and the AccuseraAccuser In contrast to others “Satan.” standing at his right to accuse him.

But [the angel of] GOD said to the Accuser, “GOD rebukes you, O Accuser; GOD who has chosen Jerusalem rebukes you! For this is a brand plucked from the fire.”ba brand plucked from the fire Joshua’s grandfather had been executed by the Babylonians (2 Kings 25.18–21) and his father was exiled (Hag. 1.1; 1 Chron. 5.40–41), but he himself has returned.

Now Joshua was clothed in filthy garments when he stood before the angel.

The latter spoke up and said to his attendants, “Take the filthy garments off him!” And he said to him, “See, I have removed your guilt from you, and you shall be clothed in [priestly] robes.”

Then heche Heb. “I.” gave the order, “Let a puredpure I.e., ritually pure. diadem be placed on his head.” And they placed the pure diadem on his head and clothed him in [priestly] garments,ethey placed the pure diadem on his head and clothed him in [priestly] garments Joshua has now been rendered fit to associate with the heavenly beings (v. 7); cf. Isa. 6.6–8. as the angel of GOD stood by.

And the angel of GOD charged Joshua as follows:

“Thus said GOD of Hosts: If you walk in My paths and keep My charge, you in turn will rule My House and guard My courts, and I will permit you to move about among these attendants.

Hearken well, O High Priest Joshua, you and your fellow priests sitting before you! For those men are a sign thatfyou! For those men are a sign that Or “you—who are men of significance! For.” I am going to bring My servant the Branch.gthe Branch I.e., the future king of David’s line. See 6.12; Jer. 23.5–6; 33.15–16; cf. Isa. 11.1.

For mark well this stone that I place before Joshua, a single stone with seven eyes.hwith seven eyes Meaning of Heb. uncertain. The stone apparently symbolizes the God-given power of the future Davidic ruler; see below 4.6–7. I will execute its engraving—declares GOD of Hosts—and I will remove that country’s guilt in a single day.

In that day—declares GOD of Hosts—you will be inviting each other to the shade of vines and fig trees.”