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Person · Tribe of Levi

Joshua

High Priest living at the time of Exile and Return

Joshua (or Jeshua), the son of Jehozadak, was the high priest who led the rebuilding of the temple after the Babylonian exile.

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Also known as Jeshua

Joshua, also known as Jeshua, was the high priest who played a significant role in the rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem after the Babylonian exile. He was the son of Jehozadak (or Jozadak) and is mentioned in the books of Haggai, Zechariah, Ezra, and Nehemiah.

Joshua is first mentioned among the leaders who returned from exile with Zerubbabel (Ezr.2.2; Neh.7.7). He worked alongside Zerubbabel to rebuild the altar and lay the foundation of the temple (Ezr.3.2, 8). When the temple construction faced opposition, Joshua and Zerubbabel successfully petitioned the Persian authorities to allow the work to continue (Ezr.5.2).

The prophets Haggai and Zechariah delivered messages of encouragement and support to Joshua during the temple reconstruction (Hag.1.1, 12, 14; 2.2, 4; Zec.3.1-9; 6.11). In a vision, Zechariah saw Joshua standing before the angel of the Lord, with Satan accusing him. The Lord rebuked Satan and affirmed His choice of Joshua as the high priest (Zec.3.1-5). Joshua was also given a symbolic crown and a promise of the coming "Branch," a messianic figure (Zec.6.11-13).

Joshua continued to serve as high priest during the early years of the restored Jewish community in Jerusalem (Neh.12.1, 7, 10, 26). His leadership, along with that of Zerubbabel, was instrumental in the completion of the temple and the reestablishment of Jewish worship in the post-exilic period.

Family

Father
Jehozadak
Children
Joiakim

Connections

Part of: Persian era: Esther and the return

Zerubbabel and Joshua: governor and high priest

WorkStated in the text

Zerubbabel, governor, and Joshua (Jeshua) son of Jehozadak, high priest, rebuilt the altar and started the temple foundation, then led the work after opposition halted it. Zechariah 3-4 pairs them as the two "anointed ones".

Where the text shows it: Ezra 3:2 — Jeshua and Zerubbabel build the altarEzra 5:2 — They resume the workZech 3:1-7 — Joshua the high priestZech 4:6-10 — Zerubbabel and the plumb line

Sources: Ezra 3:2 · Ezra 5:2 · Zech 3:1-7 · Zech 4:6-10

Haggai and Zechariah: prophets of the second temple

WorkStated in the text

In 520 BC Haggai and Zechariah urged Zerubbabel and Joshua to resume building the temple, which had stalled for sixteen years. Haggai speaks first (month 6), Zechariah two months later. Ezra 6:14 says the elders prospered by their prophesying.

Where the text shows it: Ezra 5:1-2 — Haggai and Zechariah prophesy; work resumesHag 1:1-14 — Haggai's call to buildZech 1:1 — Zechariah's first oracleEzra 6:14 — Completion attributed to elders and prophets

Sources: Ezra 5:1-2 · Hag 1:1-14 · Zech 1:1 · Ezra 6:14

Where Joshua appears

21 verses in 4 books · English text: BSB (change it from the menu at the top) · Strong’s H3091

Ezra5
Nehemiah5
Haggai5
Zechariah6

Names, family links and references: STEPBible TIPNR (Tyndale House Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). Short descriptions were drafted with AI assistance by STEPBible. Family links follow STEPBible’s scholarly decisions where genealogies are ambiguous.