Zechariah 3:1

He shewed me. The fourth vision (vs. 1-10) was given to show the power of Christ “to vanquish the accuser of His people” (PK 583). It was given at a time when “the steady advancement made by the builders of the Temple greatly discomfited and alarmed the hosts of evil” (PK 582). See on ch. 1:8.

Joshua. The first high priest after the Captivity. He is called Jeshua in Ezra 2:2, a transliteration of the Aramaic form of the name, instead of the Hebrew, as here. See further on Ezra 2:2. In this vision the high priest represents Israel standing before God.

Angel of the Lord. That is, “the Angel which is the Lord,” meaning Christ (cf. Jude 9; see PK 584; see on Ex. 23:20, 21).

Satan. Heb. hassatan, literally, “the adversary.” The word comes from the verb satan, which means “to accuse,” “to act, as an adversary.” The verb occurs in Ps. 38:20; 71:13; 109:4, 20, 29,; Zech. 3:1. The noun is applied to an earthly adversary in 1 Sam. 29:4; 2 Sam. 19:22; 1 Kings 5:4; 11:14, 23, 25; Ps. 109:6, and to an angel in Num. 22:22, 32. In each of these references the Hebrew noun is without the article. With the article the noun occurs 14 times in Job 1:6 to 2:7, and 3 times in Zech. 3:1, 2. In each of these instances it is translated “Satan.” Once the noun is translated “Satan” when it is without the article in the Hebrew (1 Chron. 21:1).

To resist. Heb. sapan, “to accuse,” “to act as an adversary” (see above under “Satan”). While Joshua was interceding before God for his people, Satan stood close by to oppose and thwart his endeavors by bringing against Joshua and his people the charge of sinfulness (cf. 1 Peter 5:8; Rev. 12:10). He pointed to the transgressions of Israel as a reason why the people should not be restored to divine favor (see PK 583; cf. Zech. 1:11; 2:12). They did not deserve to be restored to the covenant relationship (see on Zech. 1:16).