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DECEMBER 26
“And a surveyor’s line shall be stretched Then he showed me Joshua the high
out over Jerusalem.” ’ 3 priest standing before the Angel of the
LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to
17 “Again proclaim, saying, ‘Thus says the 2
LORD of hosts: oppose him. And the LORD said to Satan, “The
LORD rebuke you, Satan! The LORD who has
“My cities shall again spread out chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Is this not a
through prosperity; brand plucked from the fire?”
The LORD will again comfort Zion,
And will again choose Jerusalem.” ’ ”
18 Then I raised my eyes and looked, and
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there were four horns. And I said to the angel 3:1 Satan. This could also be translated
who talked with me, “What are these?” “adversary” and thus the person’s identity
So he answered me, “These are the horns that would be unknown. However, because the
have scattered Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem.” activity of accusation is so in keeping with
20 Then the LORD showed me four craftsmen. Satan (Job 1; 2; Rev. 12:10), his identification is
21 And I said, “What are these coming to do?” preferable. The malicious adversary stands in
the presence of the Lord to proclaim Israel’s
So he said, “These are the horns that scat- sins and their unworthiness of God’s favor.The
tered Judah, so that no one could lift up his situation is crucial: If Joshua is vindicated,
head; but the craftsmen are coming to terrify Israel is accepted; if Joshua is rejected, Israel is
them, to cast out the horns of the nations that rejected.The entire plan of God for the nation
lifted up their horn against the land of Judah to was revealed in the outcome. Israel’s hopes
scatter it.” would either be destroyed or confirmed.
Then I raised my eyes and looked, and
2 behold, a man with a measuring line in his
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hand. So I said, “Where are you going?” 3 Now Joshua was clothed with filthy gar-
And he said to me, “To measure Jerusalem,
to see what is its width and what is its length.” ments, and was standing before the Angel.
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And there was the angel who talked with
3 Then He answered and spoke to those who
me, going out; and another angel was coming stood before Him, saying, “Take away the
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out to meet him, who said to him, “Run, speak filthy garments from him.” And to him He said,
to this young man, saying: ‘Jerusalem shall be “See, I have removed your iniquity from you,
inhabited as towns without walls, because of and I will clothe you with rich robes.”
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the multitude of men and livestock in it. For I,’ And I said, “Let them put a clean turban on
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says the LORD, ‘will be a wall of fire all around his head.”
her, and I will be the glory in her midst.’ ” So they put a clean turban on his head, and
“Up, up! Flee from the land of the north,”
6 they put the clothes on him. And the Angel of
says the LORD; “for I have spread you abroad the LORD stood by.
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like the four winds of heaven,” says the LORD. Then the Angel of the LORD admonished
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7 “Up, Zion! Escape, you who dwell with the Joshua, saying, “Thus says the LORD of hosts:
daughter of Babylon.” ‘If you will walk in My ways,
8 For thus says the LORD of hosts: “He sent And if you will keep My command,
Me after glory, to the nations which plunder Then you shall also judge My house,
you; for he who touches you touches the apple And likewise have charge of My
of His eye. For surely I will shake My hand courts;
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against them, and they shall become spoil for I will give you places to walk
their servants. Then you will know that the Among these who stand here.
LORD of hosts has sent Me.
10 8 ‘Hear, O Joshua, the high priest,
“Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion! For
behold, I am coming and I will dwell in your You and your companions who sit
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midst,” says the LORD. “Many nations shall be before you,
joined to the LORD in that day, and they shall For they are a wondrous sign;
become My people. And I will dwell in your For behold, I am bringing forth My
midst. Then you will know that the LORD of Servant the BRANCH.
hosts has sent Me to you. And the LORD will 9 For behold, the stone
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take possession of Judah as His inheritance in That I have laid before Joshua:
the Holy Land, and will again choose Jerusalem. Upon the stone are seven eyes.
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Be silent, all flesh, before the LORD, for He is Behold, I will engrave its inscription,’
aroused from His holy habitation!” Says the LORD of hosts,
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