Zacharias, 3
In a vision Satan appeareth accusing the high priest. He is cleansed from his sins. Christ is promised, and great fruit from his passion.
[1] And the Lord shewed me Jesus 1 the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord: and Satan stood on his right hand to be his adversary. •
Jesus: Alias, Josue, the son of Josedec, the high priest of that time.
[2] And the Lord said to Satan: The Lord rebuke thee, O Satan: and the Lord that chose Jerusalem rebuke thee: Is not this a brand plucked out of the fire? •
[3] And Jesus was clothed with filthy garments 1: and he stood before the face of the angel. •
With filthy garments: Negligences and sins.
[4] Who answered, and said to them that stood before him, saying: Take away the filthy garments from him. And he said to him: Behold I have taken away thy iniquity, and have clothed thee with change of garments. •
[5] And he said: Put a clean mitre upon his head: and they put a clean mitre upon his head, and clothed him with garments, and the angel of the Lord stood. •
[6] And the angel of the Lord protested to Jesus, saying:
[7] Thus saith the Lord of hosts: If thou wilt walk in my ways, and keep my charge, thou also shalt judge my house, and shalt keep my courts, and I will give thee 1 some of them that are now present here to walk with thee. •
I will give thee: Angels to attend and assist thee.
[8] Hear, O Jesus thou high priest, thou and thy friends that dwell before thee, for they are portending men 1: for behold, I WILL BRING MY SERVANT THE ORIENT 2. •
Portending men: That is, men, who by words and actions are to foreshew wonders that are to come.
My servant the Orient: Christ, who according to his humanity is the servant of God, is called the Orient from his rising like the sun in the east to enlighten the world.
[9] For behold the stone 1 that I have laid before Jesus: upon one stone there are seven eyes 2: behold I will grave the graving thereof, saith the Lord of hosts: and I will take away the iniquity of that land in one day 3. •
The stone: Another emblem of Christ, the rock, foundation, and corner stone of his church.
Seven eyes: The manifold providence of Christ over his church, or the seven gifts of the spirit of God.
One day: That is, the day of the passion of Christ, the source of all our good: when this precious stone shall be graved, that is, cut and pierced, with whips, thorns, nails, and spear.
[10] In that day, saith the Lord of hosts, every man shall call his friend under the vine and under the fig tree. •