SUMMARY
The vision of the high priestThe high priest was the most powerful priest in the temple in Jerusalem. The high priest Caiaphas held the office during the trial of Jesus. Later, in the New Testament book of Hebrews, the role of merciful high priest is ascribed to the resurrected Jesus. More Joshua (3:1-7) is followed by an oracleAn oracle is a divine utterance of guidance, promise, or judgment delivered to humans through an intermediary (who is often also called an oracle). In the Bible oracles are given by Balaam (in the book of Numbers) and by David (in 2 Samuel). A number... More of “my servant the Branch,” which the Lord is bringing forth (3:8-10).
ANALYSIS
The term “branch,” also “shoot” or “sprout,” is reminiscent of the branch of David in Jeremiah 23:5-6 and 33:14-16, and the “branch of the LORD” and the “shoot shall come out from the stump of Jesse” in Isaiah 4:2 and 11:1. The branch as servant connects this passage with the servant songs in Isaiah. The priesthood of Joshua is a symbol of the branch, and the inscribed stone that will be set before Joshua declares that the Lord will remove the iniquity of the land. With all these references in this one paragraph, the passage has traditionally been regarded as messianic by Christians pointing to Jesus as one who combines kingship with priesthood.