Le grand-prêtre Josué

Puis il me fit voir Josué, le grand-prêtre, qui se tenait debout devant l’ange de l’Eternel. Et l’Accusateur se tenait à sa droite pour l’accuser[a].

L’Eternel dit à l’Accusateur : Que l’Eternel te réduise au silence, Accusateur ! Oui, que l’Eternel te réduise au silence, lui qui porte son choix sur Jérusalem ! Celui-ci n’est-il pas un tison arraché au feu[b] ?

Or, Josué était couvert d’habits très sales et il se tenait devant l’ange. L’ange s’adressa à ceux qui se tenaient devant lui et leur ordonna : Otez-lui ses vêtements sales !

Et il ajouta à l’adresse de Josué : Regarde, j’ai enlevé le poids de la faute que tu portais et l’on te revêtira d’habits de fête.

Alors je m’écriai : Qu’on lui mette un turban pur[c] sur la tête !

On lui posa donc le turban pur sur la tête, et on le revêtit d’autres habits. Or, l’ange de l’Eternel se tenait là.

L’ange de l’Eternel fit ensuite cette déclaration à Josué : Voici ce que dit le Seigneur des armées célestes : Si tu suis les chemins que j’ai prescrits et si tu obéis à mes commandements, tu exerceras dans mon temple les fonctions judiciaires, tu veilleras sur mes parvis, et je te donnerai des guides pris parmi[d] ceux qui se tiennent ici.

Et maintenant, écoute, Josué, toi le grand-prêtre, et tes collègues qui se tiennent devant toi, car vous êtes des hommes qui servez de préfiguration. En effet, je ferai venir mon serviteur, qui est appelé le Germe[e].

Voici que je pose une pierre devant Josué. Sur cette pierre unique il y a sept yeux[f]. J’y graverai moi-même son inscription, le Seigneur des armées célestes le déclare. En un seul jour, j’ôterai le poids de la faute que porte ce pays. 10 En ce jour-là – le Seigneur des armées célestes le déclare – vous vous inviterez les uns les autres sous la vigne et sous le figuier.

Footnotes

  1. 3.1 Josué: voir Esd 3.2 ; Ag 1.1. L’Accusateur: hébreu : le satan (qui est un nom commun ; voir Jb 1.6-12). Dans les tribunaux, l’accusateur se tenait à la droite de l’accusé (voir Ps 109.6).
  2. 3.2 Un rescapé de l’exil (Esd 2.36).
  3. 3.5 C’est le turban du grand-prêtre (Ex 28.39-43) sur lequel était inscrit : « Consacré à l’Eternel » (Ex 28.36).
  4. 3.7 je te donnerai des guides pris parmi. Autre traduction : je te donnerai accès parmi.
  5. 3.8 Nom que plusieurs prophètes donnent au Messie (voir 6.12 ; Es 11.1 ; Jr 23.5 ; 33.15). Dans ce verset, Zacharie unit l’attente du Germe à celle du Serviteur de l’Eternel annoncé par Esaïe (Es 42.1ss ; 49.1ss ; 50.4ss ; 52.13 à 53.12).
  6. 3.9 Voir Ap 5.6.

Vision of the High Priest

Then he showed me (A)Joshua the high priest standing before the Angel of the Lord, and (B)Satan[a] standing at his right hand to oppose him. And the Lord said to Satan, (C)“The Lord rebuke you, Satan! The Lord who (D)has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! (E)Is this not a brand plucked from the fire?”

Now Joshua was clothed with (F)filthy garments, and was standing before the Angel.

Then He answered and spoke to those who stood before Him, saying, “Take away the filthy garments from him.” And to him He said, “See, I have removed your iniquity from you, (G)and I will clothe you with rich robes.”

And I said, “Let them put a clean (H)turban on his head.”

So they put a clean turban on his head, and they put the clothes on him. And the Angel of the Lord stood by.

The Coming Branch

Then the Angel of the Lord admonished Joshua, saying, “Thus says the Lord of hosts:

‘If you will walk in My ways,
And if you will (I)keep My command,
Then you shall also (J)judge My house,
And likewise have charge of My courts;
I will give you places to walk
Among these who (K)stand here.

‘Hear, O Joshua, the high priest,
You and your companions who sit before you,
For they are (L)a[b] wondrous sign;
For behold, I am bringing forth (M)My Servant the (N)BRANCH.
For behold, the stone
That I have laid before Joshua:
(O)Upon the stone are (P)seven eyes.
Behold, I will engrave its inscription,’
Says the Lord of hosts,
‘And (Q)I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day.
10 (R)In that day,’ says the Lord of hosts,
‘Everyone will invite his neighbor
(S)Under his vine and under his fig tree.’ ”

Footnotes

  1. Zechariah 3:1 Lit. the Adversary
  2. Zechariah 3:8 Lit. men of a sign or wonder

A Vision of Joshua the High Priest

Then he showed me (A)Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord, and (B)Satan[a] standing at his right hand to accuse him. And the Lord said to Satan, (C)“The Lord rebuke you, O Satan! The Lord who has (D)chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Is not this (E)a brand[b] plucked from the fire?” Now (F)Joshua was standing before the angel, (G)clothed with filthy garments. And the angel said to (H)those who were standing before him, (I)“Remove the filthy garments from him.” And to him he said, “Behold, (J)I have taken your iniquity away from you, and (K)I will clothe you with pure vestments.” And I said, (L)“Let them put a clean turban on his head.” So they put a clean turban on his head and clothed him with garments. And the angel of the Lord was standing by.

And the angel of the Lord solemnly assured (M)Joshua, “Thus says the Lord of hosts: If you will walk in my ways and (N)keep my charge, then you shall (O)rule my house and have charge of my courts, and I will give you the right of access among (P)those who are standing here. Hear now, O Joshua the high priest, you and your friends who sit before you, for (Q)they are men who are a sign: behold, I will bring (R)my servant (S)the Branch. For behold, on (T)the stone that I have set before Joshua, on a single stone with (U)seven eyes,[c] I will (V)engrave its inscription, declares the Lord of hosts, and (W)I will remove the iniquity of this land in a single day. 10 In that day, declares the Lord of hosts, every one of you will invite his neighbor to come (X)under his vine and under his fig tree.”

Footnotes

  1. Zechariah 3:1 Hebrew the Accuser or the Adversary
  2. Zechariah 3:2 That is, a burning stick
  3. Zechariah 3:9 Or facets