“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.”
The prophecy continues: He shall bear the glory and shall sit and rule on his throne, and shall be a priest on his throne, and the counsel of peace shall be between them both.\u2014establishing that the Branch will unite in himself both priestly and kingly functions, ending the separation between these roles that characterized the pre-exilic period. The bearing of glory represents the radiance and majesty of the Branch; sitting and ruling on his throne represents his kingship and governance. The statement that he shall be a priest on his throne is extraordinary: the Branch combines what was previously separated\u2014the priest served at the altar, the king ruled from the throne\u2014but this figure integrates both roles. The counsel of peace between them both likely refers to the harmonious coordination between his priestly and kingly functions, or between the two offices when united in the one person of the Branch. This verse establishes the ultimate hope of the restoration: the coming of a figure who will perfectly coordinate justice and mercy, kingship and priesthood, power and service.
COMMUNITY REFLECTIONS
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