upon = fixed upon; as in Deuteronomy 11:12 . Compare 1 Kings 9:3 .Ezra 5:5 . one stone: or, every stone. seven eyes = seven pairs of eyes. Watching and caring for. Compare Zechariah 4:10 . saith the LORD of hosts = [is] tho oracle of Jehovah Sabaioth. in one day . Compare Isaiah 66:5-9 read more
that day: i.e. the day of Messiah. call = call in . . . under: i.e. invite to sit down and feast. every man. Hebrew Ish. App-14 . the = his own; as in Micah 4:4 . read more
This remarkable vision (Zechariah 3:1-10) was shown to the prophet by God Himself; and it is primarily concerned with the status of Israel after the captivity. God had rejected and destroyed, but not totally, the entire nation of the Jews, including both their wicked states: Ephraim and Judah. This near-total destruction of the once-chosen people followed the corruption and apostasy of the whole people from the loving God who had delivered them from Egyptian slavery, with the terminal result... read more
"And Jehovah said unto Satan, Jehovah rebuke thee, O Satan; yea, Jehovah that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee; is not this a brand plucked out of the fire?"This double rebuke of Satan by God Himself dramatically demonstrates the conception that Satan is indeed a powerful, superhuman enemy of mankind, full of the utmost and most malicious wickedness.Details of Satan's charges against Israel (as represented by Joshua) were not given in the vision; for there was no need to do so. God's prophets... read more
"Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and was standing before the angel. And he answered and spake unto those that stood before him, saying, Take the filthy garments from off him. And unto him the said, Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with rich apparel.""Filthy garments ..." Some have advanced the notion that the filthy garments here indicate penitence and mourning on the part of Joshua; but the mention of "iniquity" in Zechariah 3:4... read more
"And I said, let them set a clean mitre upon his head. So they set a clean mitre upon his head, and clothed him with garments; and the angel of Jehovah was standing by.""And I said ..." Our version (ASV) indicates that Zechariah himself at this point interjected himself into the proceedings of the vision with a prayer "Let them," a prayer immediately answered through full compliance with his request."And I said ..." Upon the basis of these brief words being omitted from the LXX, Thomas declared... read more
"And the angel of Jehovah protested unto Joshua, saying, thus saith Jehovah of hosts: If thou wilt walk in my ways, and if thou wilt keep my charge, then thou also shalt judge my house, and shalt also keep my courts, and I will give thee a place of access among these that stand by."The use of the word "access" here is most significant. The only access to God on the part of mankind that was ever opened up was through the blood of Jesus Christ. Concerning both the ancient Israel and the new... read more
"Hear now, O Joshua the high priest, thou and thy fellows that sit before thee; for they are men that are a sign: for, Behold, I will bring forth my servant the Branch.""Men that are a sign ..." Joshua himself was evidently included as being in the company of men that "were for a sign," indicating the typical nature of the Old Testament high priesthood as it pointed toward the Messiah. "The words for they should be omitted. Joshua and his fellow priests are the men" that are a sign.[16]"O... read more
"For, behold, the stone that I have set before Joshua; upon one stone are seven eyes: Behold, I will engrave the graying thereof, saith Jehovah of hosts, and I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day."Joshua (Jesus), the Branch, and My Servant, all in the previous verse, point squarely to the approaching Messiah; and there is no need to suppose that the stone which appears here is anything except another metaphor of the Son of God. The fact of the stone's having "seven eyes" seals the... read more
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E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Zechariah 3:8
fellows = colleagues. men wondered at = men of sign: i.e. men to serve as signs [of One greater]. men. Hebrew, plural of "enosh. App-14 . My Servant the BRANCH : i.e. Messiah, the BRANCH. Compare Isaiah 4:2 .Jeremiah 23:5 , Jeremiah 23:6 ; Jeremiah 33:15 .Jeremiah 6:12 . Hebrew zemiah. Not the same word as in Isaiah 11:1 , or Psalms 80:15 , Psalms 80:17 . See notes on p, 1304. BRANCH. See App-48 . read more