Joshua יְהוֹשׁוּעַ
High priest during the rebuilding of the temple
Biography
Joshua, also known as Jeshua, was the high priest who played a significant role in the rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem after the Babylonian exile. He was the son of Jehozadak (or Jozadak) and is mentioned in the books of Haggai, Zechariah, Ezra, and Nehemiah.
Joshua is first mentioned among the leaders who returned from exile with Zerubbabel (Ezr.2.2; Neh.7.7). He worked alongside Zerubbabel to rebuild the altar and lay the foundation of the temple (Ezr.3.2, 8). When the temple construction faced opposition, Joshua and Zerubbabel successfully petitioned the Persian authorities to allow the work to continue (Ezr.5.2).
The prophets Haggai and Zechariah delivered messages of encouragement and support to Joshua during the temple reconstruction (Hag.1.1, 12, 14; 2.2, 4; Zec.3.1-9; 6.11). In a vision, Zechariah saw Joshua standing before the angel of the Lord, with Satan accusing him. The Lord rebuked Satan and affirmed His choice of Joshua as the high priest (Zec.3.1-5). Joshua was also given a symbolic crown and a promise of the coming "Branch," a messianic figure (Zec.6.11-13).
Joshua continued to serve as high priest during the early years of the restored Jewish community in Jerusalem (Neh.12.1, 7, 10, 26). His leadership, along with that of Zerubbabel, was instrumental in the completion of the temple and the reestablishment of Jewish worship in the post-exilic period.
Family
In Scripture
4 biblical books ; 2 with study contentHaggai 5 verses
- Haggai 1:1
"In the second year of Darius the king, in the sixth month, in the first day of the month, Yahweh’s word came by Haggai, the prophet, to Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua, the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, saying,"
- Haggai 1:12
"Then Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, and Joshua, the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, with all the remnant of the people, obeyed Yahweh, their God’s voice, and the words of Haggai, the prophet, as Yahweh, their God, had sent him; and the people feared Yahweh."
- Haggai 1:14
"Yahweh stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua, the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and the spirit of all the remnant of the people; and they came and worked on the house of Yahweh of Armies, their God,"
- Haggai 2:2
"“Speak now to Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua, the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and to the remnant of the people, saying,"
- Haggai 2:4
"Yet now be strong, Zerubbabel,’ says Yahweh. ‘Be strong, Joshua, son of Jehozadak, the high priest. Be strong, all you people of the land,’ says Yahweh, ‘and work, for I am with you,’ says Yahweh of Armies."
Zechariah 5 verses
- Zechariah 3:1
"He showed me Joshua the high priest standing before Yahweh’s angel, and Satan standing at his right hand to be his adversary."
- Zechariah 3:3
"Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and was standing before the angel."
- Zechariah 3:6
"Yahweh’s angel protested to Joshua, saying,"
- Zechariah 3:8
"Hear now, Joshua the high priest, you and your fellows who sit before you; for they are men who are a sign: for, behold, I will bring out my servant, the Branch."
- Zechariah 3:9
"For, behold, the stone that I have set before Joshua; on one stone are seven eyes: behold, I will engrave its engraving,’ says Yahweh of Armies, ‘and I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day."
Ezra 5 verses Study available
- Ezra 2:2
"who came with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Seraiah, Reelaiah, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispar, Bigvai, Rehum, and Baanah. The number of the men of the people of Israel:"
Study Ezra → - Ezra 3:2
"Then Jeshua the son of Jozadak stood up with his brothers the priests, and Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel and his brothers, and built the altar of the God of Israel, to offer burnt offerings on it, as it is written in the law of Moses the man of God."
Study Ezra → - Ezra 3:8
"Now in the second year of their coming to God’s house at Jerusalem, in the second month, Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and the rest of their brothers the priests and the Levites, and all those who had come out of the captivity to Jerusalem,..."
Study Ezra → - Ezra 4:3
"But Zerubbabel, and Jeshua, and the rest of the heads of fathers’ households of Israel, said to them, “You have nothing to do with us in building a house to our God; but we ourselves together will build to Yahweh, the God of Israel, as king Cyrus the king of Persia has commanded..."
Study Ezra → - Ezra 5:2
"Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of Jozadak rose up and began to build God’s house which is at Jerusalem; and with them were the prophets of God, helping them."
Study Ezra →
Nehemiah 5 verses Study available
- Nehemiah 7:7
"who came with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Azariah, Raamiah, Nahamani, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispereth, Bigvai, Nehum, Baanah. The number of the men of the people of Israel:"
Study Nehemiah → - Nehemiah 12:1
"Now these are the priests and the Levites who went up with Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua: Seraiah, Jeremiah, Ezra,"
Study Nehemiah → - Nehemiah 12:7
"Sallu, Amok, Hilkiah, and Jedaiah. These were the chiefs of the priests and of their brothers in the days of Jeshua."
Study Nehemiah → - Nehemiah 12:10
"Jeshua became the father of Joiakim, and Joiakim became the father of Eliashib, and Eliashib became the father of Joiada,"
Study Nehemiah → - Nehemiah 12:26
"These were in the days of Joiakim the son of Jeshua, the son of Jozadak, and in the days of Nehemiah the governor, and of Ezra the priest and scribe."
Study Nehemiah →
Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script | Strong's |
|---|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | יְהוֹשׁוּעַ | H3091J |
| Named | Hebrew | יֵשׁוּעַ | H3442P |
| Aramaic | Hebrew | יֵשׁוּעַ | H3443 |