A Priest on His Throne

The eighth and final night vision mirrors the first. Four chariots come out from between two mountains of bronze, pulled by red, black, white, and dappled horses. The angel explains, these are the four winds of the sky, which go out from standing before the Lord of all the earth. They walk back and forth through the earth, and those going north have quieted God's Spirit there. As with the other visions, we follow the angel's explanation without adding to it.

Next God gives Zechariah a symbolic action. Take silver and gold from the exiles Heldai, Tobijah, and Jedaiah, make crowns, and set them on the head of Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest. Normally priests and kings had separate roles, so a crown on a priest's head was striking.

God's words explain the action: behold, the man whose name is the Branch! He will grow up out of his place, and he will build Yahweh's temple. He will bear the glory, and will sit and rule on his throne. He will be a priest on his throne. Those who are far off shall come and build in Yahweh's temple. Christians believe the Branch who is both priest and king points to Jesus, and in the New Testament, Hebrews describes Jesus as a great high priest who sits at God's right hand.