Joshua the High Priest
Joshua (also called Jeshua), son of Josedech, was the first high priest of the community that returned from Babylonian exile, serving alongside the governor Zerubbabel. Together they rebuilt the altar and restored the sacrifices before the temple foundation was even laid, and pressed the temple rebuilding forward at the urging of the prophets Haggai and Zechariah. Zechariah's fourth vision shows Joshua standing before the angel of the LORD in filthy garments while Satan stands to accuse him - and God rebukes the accuser, strips away the filthy clothes, and clothes him in rich robes and a clean turban: a living picture of guilt removed by grace, not merit. In a later oracle Joshua is crowned and named a sign of 'the BRANCH' - the coming priest-king whose government would unite what Israel's offices kept separate.
Biography
- Occupation
- High Priest
- Tribe
- Levi
- Father
- Josedech (Jehozadak)
- Era
- Return from Exile
- Nationality
- Jewish
- Also Known As
- Jeshua
Family
Did You Know?
Zechariah's vision of Joshua is one of the clearest Old Testament pictures of justification: filthy garments removed and clean robes given, entirely at God's initiative.
In Zechariah 6 a crown was placed on Joshua's head as a sign of 'the BRANCH' - a symbolic act uniting priest and king that Israel's law otherwise kept strictly separate.
His grandfather Seraiah was the last high priest of the first temple, executed by Nebuchadnezzar - making Joshua's restored priesthood a resurrection of a broken line.
Key Chapters
Key Passages
Rebuilding the Altar
Ezra 3:2-3
Worship resumes before walls or temple exist - the returned exiles' first priority is the altar, even 'for fear... of the people of those countries.'
2hen stood up Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and his brethren the priests, and Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and his brethren, and builded the altar of the God of Israel, to offer burnt offerings thereon, as it is written in the law of Moses the man of God.
Clean Garments for the Accused Priest
Zechariah 3:1-5
Satan accuses, God rebukes, and filthy garments are exchanged for clean - justification dramatized centuries before Paul wrote a word of it.
1nd he shewed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him.