Study note

Zechariah 3:1

  • Jeshua was the high priest and the religious leader among those who returned to Judah from exile in Babylon (Ezra 2:2). Jeshua worked with Zerubbabel, the governor of the restored community. They worked together to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem (Ezra 5:2; Haggai 2:1–5).

  • Satan (literally The satan) is a member of the heavenly court. His role is to bring charges against human beings for wrongdoing. He speaks against them before God (see Job 1:6).

    This adversarial role could be carried out by either human or divine beings (see Numbers 22:22; 1 Samuel 29:4; 1 Chronicles 21:1).

    By New Testament times, Satan had become a personal name. It referred to the ruler of demons and the chief opponent of God’s work (Mark 3:22; 2 Corinthians 4:4; Ephesians 6:11; Revelation 20:2).

  • Satan's authority in the heavenly court is shown by his position at the angel’s right hand.