Zechariah 3

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Zechariah 3:6

And the angel of the Lord protested - Solemnly (etymologically, called God to witness) as in, “Did I not make thee swear by the Lord and protested unto thee” 1 Kings 2:42, laying it as an obligation upon him. The charge is given to Joshua, and in him to all successive high priests, while Israel should continue to be God’s people, as the condition of their acceptance. read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Zechariah 3:7

If thou wilt walk in My ways and if thou wilt keep My charge - Both of these are expressions, dating from the Pentateuch, for holding on in the way of life, well-pleasing to God and keeping the charge given by God. It was the injunction of the dying David to Solomon, “Keep the charge of the Lord thy God, to walk in His ways, to keep His statutes ...” 1 Kings 2:3.Then shalt thou also judge My house - Judgment, in the place of God, was part of the high priest’s office Deuteronomy 17:9-13;... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Zechariah 3:8

Thou and thy companions which sit before thee; yea men of marvelous signs are they - o It seems probable that the words addressed to Joshua begin here; else the “men of signs” would be the companions of Joshua, to the exclusion of Himself. His companions are probably ordinary priests, who sit as sharing his dignity as priest, but “before him,” as inferiors. So Ezekiel says, “I was sitting in my house, and the elders of Israel were sitting before me” Ezekiel 8:1. They are “images of the things... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Zechariah 3:9

For behold the stone, that I hare laid before Joshua - This must be an expansion of what he had said, or the ground of it, being introduced by, for. It must be something future, to be done by God Himself, since God says, “I will grave the graving thereof;” something connected with the remission of sins, which follows upon that graying. The stone, then, cannot be the stone of foundation of the material temple (Rashi). For this had long before been laid. The head-cornerstone, the completion of... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Zechariah 3:10

Under the vine and under the fig tree - Micah had already made the description of the peaceful days of Solomon 1 Kings 4:25, a symbol Micah 4:4 of the universal fearless peace of the time of Christ. Lap.: “Christ by His passion shall not only take away iniquity, but also bring peace, delight, free communication of all things, so that all things among Christians should be common. For the law of Christ enjoineth charity, forgiveness of injuries, patience, love of enemies etc., all which bring... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Zechariah 3

A.M. 3484. B.C. 520. In this chapter, (1,) Zechariah sees Joshua the high-priest standing before an angel of the Lord, as it were soliciting to be admitted to the discharge of his sacred functions, and Satan standing by in the act of opposing him, Zechariah 3:1 . (2,) The adversary receives a rebuke from the Lord himself, by whose special command Joshua is stripped of his filthy garments, and invested with the priestly robes of service, Zechariah 3:2-5 . (3,) The angel delivers to... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Zechariah 3:1

Zechariah 3:1. And he showed me He, that is, the angel, who talked with him, after delivering the message in the preceding chapter, proceeded to another representation; Joshua the high-priest, &c. We find from Haggai, that Joshua the son of Josedech was at this time high-priest. He stands here as representing the whole Jewish people. Standing before the angel of the Lord This angel was Christ, or the Logos, mentioned Zechariah 1:11, and called the Lord in the following verse,... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Zechariah 3:2-5

Zechariah 3:2-5. And the Lord said, &c. The Logos, or Son of God, said unto Satan; The Lord Namely, God the Father; rebuke thee And not suffer thy mischievous imagination against Jerusalem and the temple to prosper. Even the Lord that hath chosen Jerusalem Who hath chosen that place for his especial residence. Christ, as a mediator, rather chooses to rebuke the adversary in his Father’s name than in his own. Is not this a brand plucked out of the fire “Is not this small remnant... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Zechariah 3:6-7

Zechariah 3:6-7 . And the angel of the Lord protested Solemnly declared; unto Joshua, If thou wilt walk in my ways If thou wilt diligently observe the commandments of my law; and wilt keep my charge The special charge and office of the high-priest. Then thou shalt also judge my house Thou shalt, for a long time, be ruler in my temple, and exercise all the authority and jurisdiction which belongs to the high-priest’s office; and shalt also keep my courts Not as a servant, but as the... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Zechariah 3:8

Zechariah 3:8. Hear now, O Joshua, and thy fellows that sit before thee The angel directs his speech to Joshua and his assessors, or assistants in council. “Possibly these may have been some of those who were called chief priests; who, though subordinate to the high-priest, were entitled by their rank to assist in his councils.” Blayney. The rabbins call these, of whom doubtless Zerubbabel was one, the heads of the captivity, and the men of the great synagogue, by whom they suppose the... read more

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