Zechariah Chapter 3

“And he showed me Joshua the high priest, etc.] Who was one that came up out of the captivity, and was principally concerned in building the temple, and had many enemies to obstruct him in it; and who falling into sin, or his sons, in marrying strange wives, (<151018>Ezra 10:18), which he might connive at, Satan was ready to catch it up, and accuse him before God; though rather Joshua is to be considered, not personally, but typically, representing the state and condition of the priesthood, in which office he was; and which was very low, mean, and abject, under the second temple; or the church of God, which the…”

“FOURTH VISION. Joshua the high priest before the angel of Jehovah; accused by Satan, but justified by Jehovah through Messiah the coming Branch. (Zac 3:1-10) Joshua as high priest (Hag 1:1) represents "Jerusalem" (Zac 3:2), or the elect people, put on its trial, and "plucked" narrowly "out of the fire." His attitude, "standing before the Lord," is that of a high priest ministering before the altar erected previously to the building of the temple (Ezr 3:2-3, Ezr 3:6; Psa 135:2). Yet, in this position, by reason of his own and his people's sins, he is represented as on his and their trial (Num 35:12). he showed…”

“And He - God, (for the office of the attendant angel was to explain, not to show the visions) “showed me Joshua the high priest, standing before the Angel of the Lord;” probably to be judged by him ; as in the New Testament, “to stand before the Son of Man;” for although “standing before,” whether in relation to man or God, , expresses attendance upon, yet here it appears only as a condition, contemporaneous with that of Satan’s, to accuse him. Although, moreover, the Angel speaks with authority, yet God’s Presence in him is not spoken of so distinctly, that the high priest would be exhibited as standing before…”

“And he - The Lord represented to me in a vision. Standing - Ministering in his office. The angel - Christ. Zechariah 3:2”

“3:1-10 The prophet’s vision depicts a heavenly courtroom with the prosecuting attorney (Satan) accusing the defendant (Jeshua the high priest) of being unfit for his priestly duties. 3:1 Jeshua was the high priest, the religious leader among those who returned to Judah from exile in Babylon (Ezra 2:2). Jeshua partnered with Zerubbabel, the governor of the restored community, in rebuilding the Jerusalem Temple (Ezra 5:2; Hag 2:1-5). • The Accuser, Satan (literally The satan) designates a member of the heavenly court whose role is to accuse human beings of wrongdoing, to act as prosecuting attorney (see Job 1:6).…”

“he: Zac 1:9, Zac 1:13, Zac 1:19, Zac 2:3 Joshua: Zac 3:8, Zac 6:11; Ezr 5:2; Hag 1:1, Hag 1:12, Hag 2:4 standing: Deu 10:8, Deu 18:15; Sa1 6:20; Ch2 29:11; Psa 106:23; Jer 15:19; Eze 44:11, Eze 44:15; Luk 21:36 the angel: Gen 48:16; Exo 3:2-6, Exo 23:20, Exo 23:21; Hos 12:4, Hos 12:5; Mal 3:1; Act 7:30-38 Satan: that is, an adversary, Job 1:6-12, Job 2:1-8; Psa 109:6 \*marg. Luk 22:31; Pe1 5:8; Rev 12:9, Rev 12:10 resist him: Heb. be his adversary, Gen 3:15 Zechariah 3:2”

“In this and the following visions the prophet is shown the future glorification of the church of the Lord. Zac 3:1. "And he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of Jehovah, and Satan stood at his right hand to oppose him. Zac 3:2. And Jehovah said to Satan, Jehovah rebuke thee, O Satan; and Jehovah who chooseth Jerusalem rebuke thee. Is not this a brand saved out of the fire? Zac 3:3. And Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and stood before the angel. Zac 3:4. And he answered and spake to those who stood before him thus: Take away the filthy garments from him. And he said to him,…”