Remarks Upon the Book of Zechariah

IN this vision the prophet was directed to take three men, Heldai, Tobijah, and Jedaiah, who had recently come from Babylon, and to go the same day into the house of Josiah the son of Zephaniah. Then he was to take silver and gold and make crowns and set them upon the head of Joshua the high priest. It is probable that these three men who were thus chosen had come from Babylon for the express purpose of bringing silver and gold as an offering to the Lord for his temple. It is also probable that Josiah, in whose house the crowns were made; was a skillful workman in gold and silver.

The crowns were to be placed upon the head of Joshua that he might represent Christ the Branch. Zechariah was then to address Joshua explaining the office and the work of Christ. When this solemn service should be finished the crowns were to be placed in the temple in memory of the three who contributed the silver and the gold, and of him whose skill was shown in making the crowns. Two of these four men had two names each. Verses 10, 14. The vision ends with an assurance that the temple would be successfully rebuilt if the Jews would diligently obey the Lord.

We have seen in our study of Zech. 3:7, 8 that Joshua and his companions were to be signs or representatives of Christ if they would be faithful to God. See verse 8, margin. In the present vision this promise is renewed to Joshua in the most impressive manner. Thus when Joshua stood with the crowns upon his head he represented the kingly office of Christ, even as he represented the priestly office of the Saviour when he stood with the mitre upon his head. Zech. 3:5; 6:11, 12. Zechariah said when he placed the crowns upon the head of Joshua: "Behold the man whose name is the Branch." Joshua was not the Branch, but he was his sign or representative. The Branch is Christ our Lord. Jer. 23:5, 6; 33:15, 16.

Joshua was the high priest, and his office was represented by the linen mitre, but when crowns were placed upon his head it was designed to make him a sign of Christ our high priest after the order of Melchisedec, who was both king and priest. Heb. 7:1, 2. Moreover when Christ comes in his glory he will have upon his head many crowns (Rev. 19:11, 12), a fact represented by the crowns placed upon the head of Joshua. Joshua as high priest during the building of the temple represents Christ as our high priest under whom the temple of the Lord is built, composed of Jews and Gentiles, redeemed by his blood. Eph. 2:19-22. The glory of building this spiritual temple belongs alone to Christ the Redeemer. Compare Zech. 6:13; 1 Pet. 2:3-6.

Christ as a priest after the order of Melchisedec was to sit down on the throne of God, indicating by this act that he was to share the dominion of the universe with his Father. Heb. 7:1, 2; 8:1; Ps. 110:1. Zechariah predicts these things by saying: "He shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon his throne [the throne of the Lord]; and he shall be a priest upon his throne [the throne of his Father]; and the counsel of peace [concerning the salvation of man] shall be between them both [the Father and the Son]." Verse 13.

Finally the prophet announces. that those who were far off would come and build in the temple of the Lord. Verse 15. This signified that some who were not yet returned from the dispersion would aid in the work of building the temple. As the prophet makes Joshua and his work to represent Christ and the work under him, this action under Joshua prefigures the union of those that are far off with those that are near in the spiritual temple built under the priesthood of Christ. Eph. 2:17-23. The assistance which Joshua was to receive from those afar off was to be a sign that Zechariah was a true prophet; but this was only to come to pass on condition that the Jews and their rulers should obey God. We must not forget that the blessings promised by the prophets to nations and to individuals have always the condition of obedience expressed or implied. If, therefore, those to whom great blessings have been promised dare to rebel against God and to continue in that rebellion, those blessings will never be bestowed. This is an important fact on which we shall have much to say hereafter. Jer. 18:7-10; Jonah 3.