Zechariah 3:1-6

Fourth night vision

1 Then the LORD showed me the high priest Joshua, standing before the messenger from the LORD, and the Adversary was standing by his right side to accuse him.
2 And the LORD said to the Adversary: "The LORD rebukes you, Adversary. The LORD, the one choosing Jerusalem, rebukes you. Is this one not a log snatched from the fire?"
3 Joshua was wearing filthy clothes and standing before the messenger.
4 He responded to those standing before him, "Take off his filthy clothes." And he said to Joshua, "Look, I have removed your guilt from you. Put on priestly robes."
5 He said, "Put a clean turban upon his head." So they put the clean turban upon his head, and they dressed him in garments while the LORD's messenger stood by.
6 Then the LORD's messenger admonished Joshua:

Zechariah 3:1-6 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO ZECHARIAH 3

In this chapter, under the type of Joshua the high priest, is showed the state and condition of the priesthood, and of the church of God, in his times; and in it are various promises concerning the true High Priest, Christ, and of the efficacy and permanency of his priesthood. The vision of Joshua is in the form of a judicial process: Joshua is the person accused, and is described by his situation, standing before the Angel of the Lord; and by the filthy garments he had on, which were the ground of the charge against him, Zec 3:1,3 The accuser of him is Satan, who stood at his right hand; and his Judge is the Angel of the Lord, before whom he was, Zec 3:1. The sentence given against his accuser is by way of rebuke, enforced by the Lord's choice of Jerusalem, and merciful deliverance of this person; and, as given in his favour, is an order to take his filthy garments from him, and clothe him with change of raiment, and to put a fair mitre on his head; which were accordingly done, Zec 3:2,4,5 and a promise is made him, by way of protestation, that if he would walk in his ways, and keep his charge, he should judge his house, and keep his courts, and should have a walking place among those that stood by, Zec 3:6,7 and next Joshua, and those that were with him, are addressed as men wondered at; and are called upon to hearken to a promise of the Messiah, under the character of the Branch, Zec 3:8 and under that of a stone with seven eyes on it, and engravings in it, by whom the iniquity of God's people is removed, Zec 3:9 and the chapter is closed with an account of the prosperity, peace, and safety of the saints under the Gospel dispensation, Zec 3:10.

Footnotes 2

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