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(6) I am going to bring in MY SERVANT THE BRANCH (tzemach) [Christ]. For
behold, the stone that I have set before Joshua [high priest]; on one stone are seven eyes.
Behold, I will engrave an inscription on it, declares YEHOVAH of hosts, and I will re-
move the iniquity of that land in one day. In that day, declares YEHOVAH of hosts,
everyone of you will invite his neighbor to sit under his vine and under his fig tree
(Zechariah 3:8-10).
(7) Behold, a man whose name is the Branch (tzemach), for he will branch out from
where he is; and HE WILL BUILD THE TEMPLE OF YEHOVAH, yes it is he who
WILL BUILD THE TEMPLE OF YEHOVAH, and he will bear the honor and sit and
rule on his throne. Thus, he will be a priest on his throne and the counsel of peace will be
between the two offices [i.e., king and priest] (Zechariah 6:12-13).
Here we see that the Davidic figure (Christ) will rebuild the Temple of His Father in Jeru-
salem when He returns (Rev. 14:14) and will function as priest as well as king. As we have al-
ready seen Christ, as a descendant of Judah through David, cannot serve as a priest in the line of
Aaron, who was of the tribe of Levi. Christ's priesthood will be based on the lineage of
Melchizedek.
This future "Branch" -- though not of Aaron's line -- will serve as a priest much like
Melchizedek did in the days of Abraham. Christ, the future Branch of David, is anointed/messianic
in this double sense -- as King and Priest. In another passage Zechariah presents an additional im-
age of this coming King:
(8) Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your
King [Christ] is coming to you; he is just and having salvation, lowly and riding on a
donkey, a colt, the foal of a donkey. I [YEHOVAH] will cut off the chariot from Ephraim
and the horse from Jerusalem; the battle bow shall be cut off. He [Christ] shall speak
peace to the nations; his dominion shall be from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends
of the earth" (Zechariah 9:9-10).
Here, as in the book of Isaiah, we see that Christ combines the traits of humility, peace and
loving kindness with those of forcefulness and strict obedience to His Father's law. He will reign
triumphantly over His enemies.
Finally, both Micah and Amos speak of this coming Davidic King -- Christ! Amos talks of
the coming restoration of David's throne --
(9) "On that day [when Christ regathers Israel to the land] I [YEHOVAH, YHVH] will
raise up the tabernacle of David, which has fallen down, and repair its damages; I will
raise up its ruins, and rebuild it as in the days of old; that they may possess the remnant of
Edom, and all the Gentiles who are called by My name," says the LORD [Yehovah] who
does this thing (Amos 9:11-12).
Micah next offers details connecting an exile and a long period of banishment with the cul-
minating return of this Davidic King:
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