The book of Haggai, after giving assurances of immediate blessing and of the future glory of the temple, closes with a prophecy of a victorious Messiah, who will reign over Jerusalem (Hag. 2:20–23). In a similar way Zechariah caps off the eight visions with a remarkable and memorable symbolic action—the crowning of Joshua as a foretoken of the Messiah. The fact of the crowning is significant; it is a reminder that when God has dealt with Babylon and the other nations, he will establish his own king on the throne. This king will flourish and be clothed with majesty. The manner of the crowning is significant in two ways: (1) It sets forth in the clearest possible way that in the Messiah the two offices of king and of priest will be united. (Note that Joshua the priest receives the crown of …