Joshua יְהוֹשׁוּעַ
High priest during the rebuilding of the temple
Who is Joshua in the Bible?
Joshua, also known as Jeshua, was the high priest who led the rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem after the Babylonian exile around 520 BCE. The son of Jehozadak, he returned from exile with the governor Zerubbabel and worked alongside him to reconstruct the altar and lay the temple's foundation (Ezra 3:2, 8). When construction faced opposition from local authorities, Joshua and Zerubbabel successfully appealed to the Persian government to permit the work to continue (Ezra 5:2). The prophets Haggai and Zechariah specifically encouraged Joshua during this challenging period, with Zechariah receiving visions that portrayed him as a symbol of God's grace and restoration (Haggai 1:1, 12, 14; Zechariah 3:1-9). Joshua's leadership in rebuilding the temple was theologically significant because it symbolized the restoration of Jewish worship and God's faithfulness to His people after their exile.
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.
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In Scripture
4 biblical books ; 2 with study contentHaggai 5 verses
- Haggai 1:1
"In the second year of the reign of Darius, on the first day of the sixth month, the word of the LORD came through Haggai the prophet to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, stating"
- Haggai 1:12
"Then Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, as well as all the remnant of the people, obeyed the voice of the LORD their God and the words of the prophet Haggai, because the LORD their God had sent him. So the people feared the LORD."
- Haggai 1:14
"So the LORD stirred the spirit of Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, as well as the spirit of all the remnant of the people. And they came and began the work on the house of the LORD of Hosts, their God,"
- Haggai 2:2
"“Speak to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and also to the remnant of the people. Ask them,"
- Haggai 2:4
"But now be strong, O Zerubbabel, declares the LORD. Be strong, O Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest. And be strong, all you people of the land, declares the LORD. Work! For I am with you, declares the LORD of Hosts."
Zechariah 5 verses
- Zechariah 3:1
"Then the angel showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, with Satan standing at his right hand to accuse him."
- Zechariah 3:3
"Now Joshua was dressed in filthy garments as he stood before the angel."
- Zechariah 3:6
"Then the angel of the LORD gave this charge to Joshua:"
- Zechariah 3:8
"Hear now, O high priest Joshua, you and your companions seated before you, who are indeed a sign. For behold, I am going to bring My servant, the Branch."
- Zechariah 3:9
"See the stone I have set before Joshua; on that one stone are seven eyes. Behold, I will engrave on it an inscription, declares the LORD of Hosts, and I will remove the iniquity of this land in a single day."
Ezra 5 verses
- Ezra 2:2
"accompanied by Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Seraiah, Reelaiah, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispar, Bigvai, Rehum, and Baanah. This is the count of the men of Israel:"
Study Ezra → - Ezra 3:2
"Then Jeshua son of Jozadak and his fellow priests, along with Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and his associates, began to build the altar of the God of Israel to sacrifice burnt offerings on it, as it is written in the Law of Moses the man of God."
Study Ezra → - Ezra 3:8
"In the second month of the second year after they had arrived at the house of God in Jerusalem, Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, Jeshua son of Jozadak, and the rest of their associates including the priests, the Levites, and all who had returned to Jerusalem from the captivity,..."
Study Ezra → - Ezra 4:3
"But Zerubbabel, Jeshua, and the other heads of the families of Israel replied, “You have no part with us in building a house for our God, since we alone must build it for the LORD, the God of Israel, as Cyrus king of Persia has commanded us.”"
Study Ezra → - Ezra 5:2
"Then Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and Jeshua son of Jozadak rose up and began to rebuild the house of God in Jerusalem. And the prophets of God were with them, helping them."
Study Ezra →
Nehemiah 5 verses
- Nehemiah 7:7
"accompanied by Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Azariah, Raamiah, Nahamani, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispereth, Bigvai, Nehum, and Baanah. This is the count of the men of Israel:"
Study Nehemiah → - Nehemiah 12:1
"Now these are the priests and Levites who went up with Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and with Jeshua: Seraiah, Jeremiah, Ezra,"
Study Nehemiah → - Nehemiah 12:7
"Sallu, Amok, Hilkiah, and Jedaiah. These were the leaders of the priests and their associates in the days of Jeshua."
Study Nehemiah → - Nehemiah 12:10
"Jeshua was the father of Joiakim, Joiakim was the father of Eliashib, Eliashib was the father of Joiada,"
Study Nehemiah → - Nehemiah 12:26
"They served in the days of Joiakim son of Jeshua, the son of Jozadak, and in the days of Nehemiah the governor and Ezra the priest and scribe."
Study Nehemiah →
Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | יְהוֹשׁוּעַ | yĕhwōšûʿa | Jehoshua (i.e. Joshua), the Jewish leader |
| Named | Hebrew | יֵשׁוּעַ | — | Jeshua , the name of ten Israelites, also of a place in Palestine |
| Aramaic | Hebrew | יֵשׁוּעַ | — | — |