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Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Zechariah 3:8

Thou and thy companions which sit before thee; yea men of marvelous signs are they - o It seems probable that the words addressed to Joshua begin here; else the “men of signs” would be the companions of Joshua, to the exclusion of Himself. His companions are probably ordinary priests, who sit as sharing his dignity as priest, but “before him,” as inferiors. So Ezekiel says, “I was sitting in my house, and the elders of Israel were sitting before me” Ezekiel 8:1. They are “images of the things... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Zechariah 3:8

Zechariah 3:8. Hear now, O Joshua, and thy fellows that sit before thee The angel directs his speech to Joshua and his assessors, or assistants in council. “Possibly these may have been some of those who were called chief priests; who, though subordinate to the high-priest, were entitled by their rank to assist in his councils.” Blayney. The rabbins call these, of whom doubtless Zerubbabel was one, the heads of the captivity, and the men of the great synagogue, by whom they suppose the... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Zechariah 3:1-10

Encouragement to Joshua (3:1-10)Zechariah then has a vision in which he sees Satan accuse the high priest Joshua (and therefore the people he represents) of being unclean. Because of their long exile in idolatrous Babylon, they are no longer fit to enter God’s presence. In other words, Satan is hinting that the people are wasting their time building the temple. Since they are unclean, no sacrifices that they offer there will be acceptable to God (3:1; see also v. 3).God replies that he has not... read more

E.W. Bullinger

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

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Zechariah 3:8

"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

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Zechariah 3:8

Zechariah 3:8. For they are men wondered at— Men of wonder, is a Hebraism for signifying, or typical men; men portending future things, or proposed to others for signs and types; [τερατοσκοποι, LXX.] as men of blood, and men of mercy, are put for bloody and merciful men. Joshua being distinguished as one of these typical persons, when the prophet, directing God's word to him, who was in no sense the branch that they expected, adds, Behold my servant the Branch, it was hardly possible that they... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Zechariah 3:8

8. Hear—On account of the magnitude of what He is about to say, He at once demands solemn attention. thy fellows that sit before thee—thy subordinate colleagues in the priesthood; not that they were actually then sitting before him; but their usual posture in consultations was on chairs or benches before him, while he sat on an elevated seat as their president. they are—From speaking to Joshua He passes to speaking of him and them, in the third person, to the attendant angels (compare :-). men... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Zechariah 3:8

Evidently Zechariah also saw in his vision other priests, Joshua’s friends, sitting in front of him. The Lord continued to address Joshua, identifying him as the high priest. He called the friends sitting in front of Joshua men who were symbols (Heb. mopheth, tokens of future events, prophetic signs; cf. Isaiah 8:18). It was not just Joshua individually who represented Israel, but the other priests also represented the priesthood within Israel."The miracle, which is to be seen in Joshua and his... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Zechariah 3:1-10

The Fourth VisionJoshua, better known under the later form Jeshua (Ezra 2:2; Ezra 3:2; Nehemiah 12:7-8, Nehemiah 12:10, etc.), was the son of Jehozadak, a member of the priestly order. He returned with the Jews from exile, and was prominently associated with Zerubbabel in the erection of the Second Temple. In 1 Esdras and Ecclus. the name appears simply as ’Jesus.’1-7. Joshua, the high priest, is seen in a vision standing before the angel of God, accused by the adversary of being unworthy, as... read more

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