Zechariah 2:13

be silent Comp. Habakkuk 2:20; Zephaniah 1:7.

raised up waked up. R. V.

his holy habitation From heaven, "the habitation of His holiness" (Deuteronomy 26:15; Jeremiah 25:30), where He had seemed to dwell, far off from the affairs of earth, Jehovah should arise, or awake, and come forth to judgment, to succour His people and discomfit His enemies. Let all flesh be hushed before Him in awful silence.

The Fourth Vision. Joshua the High Priest before the Angel of Jehovah, Zechariah 3:1-10. The former visions had foretold that the "rest" of the nations should be disturbed (Zechariah 1:8-17), that the enemies of Israel should be "cast out" (Zechariah 1:18-21), and that Jerusalem should become the habitation of Jehovah (Zechariah 2:1-13). But in order to the fulfilment of these promises, there must be a moral and spiritual reformation of the people. With this the next vision is concerned. Judgment begins at the house of God (comp. Malachi 3:3). The prophet sees Joshua the High Priest, the representative not only of the whole priesthood, but also of the entire nation, standing before the Angel of the Lord. At his right hand stands the Adversary, to play an adversary's part against him (Zechariah 2:1). But before the charge can be preferred, Jehovah Himself interposes and rebukes the Adversary. Would the same hand, He asks, that had plucked from the fire the brand, charred, blackened and half-consumed already, cast it back again into the flames? And should He, who had delivered the remnant of His people from the furnace of Babylon, now listen to the charges of the accuser and yield them again to destruction? (Zechariah 2:2.) Doubtless, matter of accusation is not wanting. The very garb of Joshua testifies against him. Instead of the pure white linen in which the High Priest should have been arrayed, he is "clothed with filthy garments" (Zechariah 2:3). But this obstacle shall by an act of mere grace be removed. The angel attendants are commanded to take away his filthy garments; while their action is interpreted to him by the assurance that his iniquity is put away, and the promise of pure raiment is given him (Zechariah 2:4). At the instance of the prophet, who would fain see God's High Priest arrayed in the complete attire of his office, a fair mitre is added. The angel of Jehovah stands by to seal by his presence and approval the transaction (Zechariah 2:5). Nor does he quit the scene till he has revealed to Joshua the full dignity of the priesthood to which he is now restored. As exercised by himself and his successors, it shall, while it moves in the ways of holy obedience in the restored Temple on earth, move also in spirit among the heavenly ministrations of angels (Zechariah 2:6-7). But it shall furthermore, by virtue of its typical character, foreshadow and prepare the way for Him who, Himself its chief cornerstone, shall rear the true Temple on which the eyes of Jehovah are fixed (Zechariah 2:8-9), who by one act shall remove iniquity for ever (Zechariah 2:9), and restore prosperity and festal joy to man (Zechariah 2:10).