The Coming King and Priest

9 And the word of the Lord came to me: 10 “Take from the exiles Heldai, Tobijah, and Jedaiah, who have arrived from Babylon, and go the same day to the house of Josiah, the son of Zephaniah. 11 Take from them silver and gold, and make a crown, and set it on the head of Joshua, the son of Jehozadak, the high priest. 12 And say to him, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, “Behold, the man whose name is the Branch: for he shall branch out from his place, and he shall build the temple of the Lord. 13 It is he who shall build the temple of the Lord and shall bear royal honor, and shall sit and rule on his throne. And there shall be a priest on his throne, and the counsel of peace shall be between them both.”’ 14 And the crown shall be in the temple of the Lord as a reminder to Helem, Tobijah, Jedaiah, and Hen the son of Zephaniah.

15 “And those who are far off shall come and help to build the temple of the Lord. And you shall know that the Lord of hosts has sent me to you. And this shall come to pass, if you will diligently obey the voice of the Lord your God.” – Zechariah 6:9-15 ESV

With the eight visions completed, Zechariah received an oracle from the LORD instructing him to perform a symbolic coronation. Much of what Zechariah was shown in the visions had to do with Israel’s distant future, including the judgment of her enemies (Zechariah 6:1-8). Chapter 3 revealed the purification of Joshua the high priest, symbolizing the renewal of the priestly ministry. 

“This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: If you follow my ways and carefully serve me, then you will be given authority over my Temple and its courtyards. I will let you walk among these others standing here.” – Zechariah 3:7 NLT

God was foreshadowing a future day when the priesthood of Israel would play a significant role in the spiritual restoration of the nation.

“I will remove the sins of this land in a single day. And on that day, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, each of you will invite your neighbor to sit with you peacefully under your own grapevine and fig tree.” – Zechariah 3:10 NLT

In chapter 4, Yahweh emphasized the role of Zerubbabel, the civil administrator of the nation of Judah. In a sense, he served as the de facto king of Judah, overseeing the physical well-being of the people as they struggled to restore Jerusalem and rebuild their lives in the promised land. Zechariah was given a vision of the golden lampstand and the two olive trees. When Zechariah inquired about the trees, he was told, “They represent the two anointed ones who stand in the court of the LORD of all the earth” (Zechariah 4:14 NLT). This rather cryptic response emphasizes the two offices of priest and king and their unified nature in the future kingdom.

With the visions completed, Yahweh provides Zechariah with a rather strange assignment.

“Heldai, Tobijah, and Jedaiah will bring gifts of silver and gold from the Jews exiled in Babylon. As soon as they arrive, meet them at the home of Josiah son of Zephaniah.” – Zechariah 6:10 NLT

These three men had recently arrived from Babylon bearing expensive gifts that were likely intended to finance the construction of the Temple. But Zechariah is ordered to take the men and their tribute to the home of Josiah the high priest. A lot is going on in this passage that bears a closer look. While no details are given as to the identities of these three men, their names are significant. Heldai means “The Enduring One.” Tobijah can be translated as “The LORD is good” and Jedaiah means “God cares.” Each of their names points to a distinguishing characteristic of Yahweh.

Secondly, they had recently arrived from Bethlehem bearing gifts. This brings to mind the story of the “wise men from the east” found in the Gospel of Matthew.

Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” – Matthew 2:1-2 ESV

The Greek word translated as “wise men” is magi which the Babylonians and Persians used to describe their astrologers, seers, interpreters of dreams, soothsayers, magicians, and sorcerers. It is doubtful that Heldai, Tobijah, and Jedaiah practiced the occult arts, but their recent arrival from Babylon bearing gifts foreshadows the future coming of the wise men. They too would bring expensive gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh (Matthew 2:11).

The magi, having seen a sign in the sky that seemed to portend an important event, conducted a search of the ancient religious texts and found the words written by the prophet Micah.

But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah,
    are only a small village among all the people of Judah.
Yet a ruler of Israel,
    whose origins are in the distant past,
    will come from you on my behalf.
The people of Israel will be abandoned to their enemies
    until the woman in labor gives birth.
Then at last his fellow countrymen
    will return from exile to their own land.
And he will stand to lead his flock with the Lord’s strength,
    in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God.
Then his people will live there undisturbed,
    for he will be highly honored around the world.
   And he will be the source of peace. – Micah 5:2-5 NLT

This discovery fueled their curiosity and motivated their journey. But little did Heldai, Tobijah, and Jedaiah know that their gifts would be used for something other than the Temple.

With the three recent arrivals in tow, Zechariah went to Joshua’s house where he took the gold and silver and crafted a crown. He then placed the crown on the head of Joshua the high priest and pronounced the following blessing.

Thus says the LORD of hosts, “Behold, the man whose name is the Branch: for he shall branch out from his place, and he shall build the temple of the LORD. It is he who shall build the temple of the LORD and shall bear royal honor, and shall sit and rule on his throne. And there shall be a priest on his throne, and the counsel of peace shall be between them both.” – Zechariah 6:12-13 ESV

Again, there are a lot of details in this passage that could easily be overlooked. First, the oracle mentions “the Branch,” which God foreshadowed in chapter 3.

“Hear now, O Joshua the high priest, you and your friends who sit before you, for they are men who are a sign: behold, I will bring my servant the Branch.” – Zechariah 3:8 ESV

The prophet Jeremiah used this same designation when referring to a future descendant of King David who would rule and reign upon his throne.

“Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. In his days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely. And this is the name by which he will be called: ‘The Lord is our righteousness.’” – Jeremiah 23:5-6 ESV

“In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch to spring up for David, and he shall execute justice and righteousness in the land.  In those days Judah will be saved, and Jerusalem will dwell securely. And this is the name by which it will be called: ‘The Lord is our righteousness.’’ – Jeremiah 33:15-16 ESV

This was all in keeping with the promise God gave to David concerning an heir who would one day sit on his throne and rule over an everlasting kingdom.

“I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.” – 2 Samuel 7:12-13 ESV

Jesus was that descendant, having been born of the tribe of Judah and through the line of David (Matthew 1; Luke 3). The apostle Paul referred to Jesus as God’s Son, “who was descended from David according to the flesh and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead” (Romans 1:3-4 ESV). In the Book of Revelation, Jesus refers to Himself as “the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star” (Revelation 22:16 ESV).

Jesus was the Branch who “sprouted” from the tree of David and the prophet Ezekiel was given a vision of the majestic glory of this future branch.

“This is what the Sovereign LORD says: I will take a branch from the top of a tall cedar, and I will plant it on the top of Israel’s highest mountain. It will become a majestic cedar, sending forth its branches and producing seed. Birds of every sort will nest in it, finding shelter in the shade of its branches.” – Ezekiel 17:22-23 NLT

So, as Zechariah crafts a crown of silver and gold and places it on the head of Joshua the high priest, there is far more going on than he even realizes. This symbolic act of crowning the high priest is weighted with meaning. As Zechariah crowns Joshua he boldly proclaims, “Thus says the Lord of hosts, ‘Behold, the man whose name is the Branch: for he shall branch out from his place, and he shall build the temple of the Lord. It is he who shall build the temple of the Lord and shall bear royal honor, and shall sit and rule on his throne. And there shall be a priest on his throne, and the counsel of peace shall be between them both’” (Zechariah 6:12-13 ESV).

Even Joshua must have been at a loss as to what was taking place. It was Zerubbabel’s job to oversee the construction of the Temple, not his. Why was Zechariah placing that responsibility on his shoulders?

But Joshua was merely a stand-in for the greater high priest to come. This ceremony of crowning the high priest as king was meant to foreshadow the coming of the Messiah, who would be the priest-king. The Book of Hebrews provides an explanation for Jesus’ designation as this hybrid ruler over the people of God. The author of Hebrews uses a story from the Book of Genesis to introduce a rather obscure character named Melchizedek, who is described as the king of the city of Salem and also a priest of God Most High” (Hebrews 7:1; Genesis 14:18).

According to the author of Hebrews, “The name Melchizedek means ‘king of justice,’ and king of Salem means ‘king of peace’ (Hebrews 7:2 NLT). Melchizedek was the king of what would later become Jerusalem. He was also a priest of Yahweh but not a descendant of Levi. He was a priest of a different order and Jesus was to follow in his footsteps.

Jesus became a priest, not by meeting the physical requirement of belonging to the tribe of Levi, but by the power of a life that cannot be destroyed. And the psalmist pointed this out when he prophesied,

“You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.”

Yes, the old requirement about the priesthood was set aside because it was weak and useless. For the law never made anything perfect. But now we have confidence in a better hope, through which we draw near to God. – Hebrews 7:16-19 NLT

Jesus would combine the offices of priest and king, serving as the perfect and complete leader for the people of God. With His death and in His role as the high priest, Jesus offered the only sacrifice acceptable to God for the sins of mankind.

Unlike those other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices every day. They did this for their own sins first and then for the sins of the people. But Jesus did this once for all when he offered himself as the sacrifice for the people’s sins. – Hebrews 7:27 NLT

And because God accepted Jesus’ sacrifice and raised Him back to life, Jesus lives forever and “his priesthood lasts forever. Therefore he is able, once and forever, to save those who come to God through him. He lives forever to intercede with God on their behalf” (Hebrews 7:24-25 NLT).

He is the kind of high priest we need because he is holy and blameless, unstained by sin. He has been set apart from sinners and has been given the highest place of honor in heaven. – Hebrews 7:26 NLT

Zechariah is told that the Branch “shall build the temple of the Lord and shall bear royal honor, and shall sit and rule on his throne” (Zechariah 6:13 ESV). Once again, God is foreshadowing future events concerning the coming Messiah. In his gospel account, John records Jesus making the following statement to the Jewish religious leaders:

“Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” – John 2:19 NLT

They understood Him to be speaking of the literal Temple, but John points out, “when Jesus said ‘this temple,’ he meant his own body” (John 2:21 NLT). Jesus was the Temple of God. He was God in human flesh. Jesus would later tell the woman at the well, “the time is coming when it will no longer matter whether you worship the Father on this mountain or in Jerusalem…indeed it’s here now—when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth” (John 4:21, 23 NLT).

The oracle ends with the following words:

“…those who are far off shall come and help to build the temple of the Lord. And you shall know that the Lord of hosts has sent me to you. And this shall come to pass, if you will diligently obey the voice of the Lord your God.” – Zechariah 6:15 ESV

This promise carries a now-not-yet aspect to it. Zerubbabel and the people of Judah would complete the physical Temple. But God had something far greater in mind. He is predicting the coming of the Church, the true temple of God; a fact that the apostle Paul makes clear.

So now you Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens along with all of God’s holy people. You are members of God’s family. Together, we are his house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself. We are carefully joined together in him, becoming a holy temple for the Lord. Through him you Gentiles are also being made part of this dwelling where God lives by his Spirit. – Ephesians 2:19-22 NLT

English Standard Version (ESV)
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT)
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

You Can Count On God

1 Again I lifted my eyes and saw, and behold, four chariots came out from between two mountains. And the mountains were mountains of bronze. 2 The first chariot had red horses, the second black horses, 3 the third white horses, and the fourth chariot dappled horses—all of them strong. 4 Then I answered and said to the angel who talked with me, “What are these, my lord?” 5 And the angel answered and said to me, “These are going out to the four winds of heaven, after presenting themselves before the Lord of all the earth. 6 The chariot with the black horses goes toward the north country, the white ones go after them, and the dappled ones go toward the south country.” 7 When the strong horses came out, they were impatient to go and patrol the earth. And he said, “Go, patrol the earth.” So they patrolled the earth. 8 Then he cried to me, “Behold, those who go toward the north country have set my Spirit at rest in the north country.” – Zechariah 6:1-8 ESV

In this final vision, Zechariah is shown what appears to be four chariots pulled by teams of red, black, white, and dappled horses. As Zechariah looks on, these instruments of war pass between two bronze mountains without the aid of any charioteers. They appear to be driverless but are not without a sense of direction or purpose. In fact, the angel asserts that they have come from the presence of the LORD and are on a mission. There are obvious similarities between this last vision and the first one Zechariah was shown. Both include horses of different colors.

“I saw in the night, and behold, a man riding on a red horse! He was standing among the myrtle trees in the glen, and behind him were red, sorrel, and white horses.” – Zechariah 1:8 ESV

In this opening vision, Zechariah was shown a heavenly messenger sent by Yahweh “to patrol the earth” (Zechariah 1:10 ESV). The mission had been completed because Zechariah heard the announcement, “We have patrolled the earth, and behold, all the earth remains at rest” (Zecharaiah 1:11 ESV). Their work was done and they rested in a grove of myrtle trees. But in the last of the eight visions, the horses have left the presence of Yahweh and just beginning their mission.

“These are the four spirits of heaven going out after presenting themselves before the Lord of all the earth.” – Zechariah 6:10 NET

They are described as rûaḥ, a Hebrew word that can be translated as “winds” or “spirits.” Given the context, it makes sense to view these chariots as divine emanations from God. They have been sent by Yahweh and commanded to “Go, patrol the earth” (Zechariah 6:7 ESV). As Zechariah looks on, the chariots head north and south. The chariots pulled by the black and white horses head to the north country, while the chariot pulled by the team of dappled horses makes its way to the south country.

The nation of Israel occupied a narrow sliver of land between the Mediterranean Sea on the west and the Arabian Desert on the east. Over the centuries, Israel’s enemies had invaded its borders from one of these two directions. So, the chariots were sent to the north and south but were expected to extend their mission beyond Israel’s borders. Their “patrol” would eventually take them to Egypt, Babylon, and Assyria, all sworn enemies of Israel. The mission of the horseman in Chapter 1 resulted in a pronouncement of peace. All was well in the land of Judah. But the chariots of the eighth vision appear to be on a mission of a different sort. They will bring peace but only after divine judgment is carried.

The angel describes the horses as strong and “impatient to go and patrol the earth” (Zechariah 1:7 ESV). They are literally chomping at the bit. In antiquity, the horse was revered for its power and ferocity in battle. These beautiful creatures could transform into devastating weapons of mass destruction, wreaking havoc against enemy infantry. Harnessed to a chariot, horses were the equivalent of a tank in modern warfare. 

The Book of Job records God’s eloquent description of the horse’s unique affinity and disposition for combat.

“Have you given the horse its strength
    or clothed its neck with a flowing mane?
Did you give it the ability to leap like a locust?
    Its majestic snorting is terrifying!
It paws the earth and rejoices in its strength
    when it charges out to battle.
It laughs at fear and is unafraid.
    It does not run from the sword.
The arrows rattle against it,
    and the spear and javelin flash.
It paws the ground fiercely
    and rushes forward into battle when the ram’s horn blows.
It snorts at the sound of the horn.
    It senses the battle in the distance.
    It quivers at the captain’s commands and the noise of battle.” – Job 39:19-25 NLT

That these horses and their chariots were intended to carry out God's judgment is made clear by verse 8.

“Look, those who went north have vented the anger of my Spirit there in the land of the north.” – Zechariah 6:8 NLT

Twenty years earlier, in 539 B.C., the Babylonians had fallen to the Persians. God had already meted out His wrath against the nation that had invaded and destroyed Judah. But His judgment was not yet complete. The Egyptians and Medo-Persians would also have to pay for their constant harassment of God’s people.

It’s interesting to note that the black, white, and dappled horses convey their chariots on their assigned routes but the chariot pulled by the red horses is not mentioned. The angel doesn’t announce its destination. There has been much speculation as to the meaning of the horses’ colors. Some have suggested that the red horses stand for war and bloodshed, while the black horses symbolize death. The white horses represent victory and the dappled horses stand for plague and disease. Together, these horses and their chariots display the multifaceted and devastating nature of God’s pending judgment against the nations.

As Zechariah looks on, the chariots and their horses are just beginning their assignments. They have passed between the two bronze mountains on their way to their final destinations. Some have speculated that these mountains represent Mount Zion and the Mount of Olives. But the more logical explanation is found in chapter 14 of Zechariah’s prophecy.

Watch, for the day of the Lord is coming when your possessions will be plundered right in front of you! I will gather all the nations to fight against Jerusalem. The city will be taken, the houses looted, and the women raped. Half the population will be taken into captivity, and the rest will be left among the ruins of the city.

Then the Lord will go out to fight against those nations, as he has fought in times past. On that day his feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem. And the Mount of Olives will split apart, making a wide valley running from east to west. Half the mountain will move toward the north and half toward the south. You will flee through this valley, for it will reach across to Azal. Yes, you will flee as you did from the earthquake in the days of King Uzziah of Judah. Then the Lord my God will come, and all his holy ones with him. – Zechariah 14:1-7 NLT

The Mount of Olives was where Jesus ascended back into heaven after His final post-resurrection appearance to His disciples (Acts 1:9-12). The angels assured the disciples that Jesus would one day return to that very same spot and complete the mission He had been given by His Heavenly Father. While His departure from earth had been in relative obscurity with only His disciples as witnesses, His return will be so impactful that the Mount of Olives will split in two. His second coming will bring judgment to the earth as God’s heavenly army dispenses divine wrath on all those who rejected His Son’s offer of salvation and opposed His right to rule and reign.

Zechariah was given a glimpse into the distant future when God will send His Son to earth a second time. On this occasion, Jesus will not come as an innocent baby in a manger, but as a conquering King riding a white horse and meting out judgment against the enemies of God. Centuries later, the apostle John was given a vision of this end times event.

Then I saw heaven opened, and a white horse was standing there. Its rider was named Faithful and True, for he judges fairly and wages a righteous war. His eyes were like flames of fire, and on his head were many crowns. A name was written on him that no one understood except himself. He wore a robe dipped in blood, and his title was the Word of God. The armies of heaven, dressed in the finest of pure white linen, followed him on white horses. From his mouth came a sharp sword to strike down the nations. He will rule them with an iron rod. He will release the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty, like juice flowing from a winepress. On his robe at his thigh was written this title: King of all kings and Lord of all lords. – Revelation 19:11-16 NLT

Zechariah was not privileged to know all the details concerning God’s coming judgment. The explanations he received from the angel were cryptic and incomplete but he could rest assured that God had a plan in place that would be fulfilled in a timely manner. Later in this book, Zechariah will receive and record a powerful promise from God concerning the nation of Israel and the city of Jerusalem.

And the Lord will be king over all the earth. On that day there will be one Lord—his name alone will be worshiped.

All the land from Geba, north of Judah, to Rimmon, south of Jerusalem, will become one vast plain. But Jerusalem will be raised up in its original place and will be inhabited all the way from the Benjamin Gate over to the site of the old gate, then to the Corner Gate, and from the Tower of Hananel to the king’s winepresses. And Jerusalem will be filled, safe at last, never again to be cursed and destroyed. – Zechariah 14:9-11 NLT

The Temple still needed to be completed. The land of Judah remained under foreign control. Jerusalem was still a relative ghost town with a small population and no protective walls. Yet, God was at work because He had plans for His people.

“I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me. I will be found by you,” says the Lord. “I will end your captivity and restore your fortunes. I will gather you out of the nations where I sent you and will bring you home again to your own land.” – Jeremiah 29:11-14 NLT

They were back in the land but God had far more in store for them than they could ever have imagined. The days ahead would be fraught with difficulty but God wanted Zechariah to know that the future was bright because His will would be done. His plan promises would be fulfilled and His plans for the people of God would be carried out just as He had said.

English Standard Version (ESV)
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT)
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.