Jeshua

9Then the LORD spoke to me again. He said:

And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,

10"Some men have come back from Babylon. Their names are Heldai, Tobijah, and Jedaiah. Take something from them. Go that same day to the house of Josiah son of Zephaniah."

Take of them of the captivity, even of Heldai, of Tobijah, and of Jedaiah, which are come from Babylon, and come thou the same day, and go into the house of Josiah the son of Zephaniah;

NoteThese men had been living in Babylon, a city far away. God's people had been carried there and kept away from home. Now some of them had come back.

11"Take the silver and gold. Make a crown from it. Put it on the head of Joshua son of Josedech, the high priest. The high priest was the leader of all the priests."

Then take silver and gold, and make crowns, and set them upon the head of Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest;

NoteA crown is a fancy hat of gold that a king wears. It shows everyone that he is the ruler. Priests did not usually wear one, so this was surprising.

12"Then tell him what the LORD of Hosts says. The LORD of Hosts is God, who rules over all the armies of heaven. He says, 'Here is a man whose name is the Branch. He will grow up from his own place. He will build the house of the LORD.'"

And speak unto him, saying, Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, Behold the man whose name is The BRANCH; and he shall grow up out of his place, and he shall build the temple of the LORD:

NoteA branch is a new green shoot that grows out of a tree. Calling the man "the Branch" meant he was a new king growing from an old family, the family of King David. The house of the LORD was the temple. It was the special building where people came to worship God. Enemies had knocked it down, and now people were building it again.

13"'Yes, he is the one who will build the house of the LORD. He will be given great honor. He will sit on his throne and rule. He will also be a priest on his throne. The two of them will make peaceful plans together.'"

Even he shall build the temple of the LORD; and he shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon his throne; and he shall be a priest upon his throne: and the counsel of peace shall be between them both.

NoteKings ruled the people. Priests helped people pray and brought their gifts to God. Almost always these were two different people, not one. The verse says "the two" but does not say who or what the two are.

14The crown will stay in the house of the LORD. It will help people remember Helem, Tobijah, Jedaiah, and Hen son of Zephaniah.

And the crowns shall be to Helem, and to Tobijah, and to Jedaiah, and to Hen the son of Zephaniah, for a memorial in the temple of the LORD.

NoteHelem is another name for Heldai. Hen is another name for Josiah. Back then people often had more than one name.

15People who live far away will come and help build the house of the LORD. Then you will know the LORD of Hosts sent me to you. This will happen if you carefully obey the LORD your God.

And they that are far off shall come and build in the temple of the LORD, and ye shall know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me unto you. And this shall come to pass, if ye will diligently obey the voice of the LORD your God.

Note"They that are far off" means people living in other lands, far from this city.