The Crown of Hope and Peace

Zechariah 6:9 And the word of the Lord came to me: 10 “Take from the exiles Heldai, Tobijah, and Jedaiah, who have arrived from Babylon, and go the same day to the house of Josiah, the son of Zephaniah. 11 Take from them silver and gold, and make a crown, and set it on the head of Joshua, the son of Jehozadak, the high priest. 12 And say to him, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, “Behold, the man whose name is the Branch: for he shall branch out from his place, and he shall build the temple of the Lord. 13 It is he who shall build the temple of the Lord and shall bear royal honor, and shall sit and rule on his throne. And there shall be a priest on his throne, and the counsel of peace shall be between them both.”’ 

After receiving eight visions from God, Zechariah received a charge - to crown Joshua the priest as King. This was not standard procedure; Kings were not to presume to take on the role of priests, and priests kept to their role as spiritual leaders.  But this was an exception, foreshadowing the coming of the Messiah as priest and king. It was an act of faith, indicating that this king would build the temple, and during His reign there would be a long-awaited peace.  He would also be the Branch, another prophetic term used for the Messiah.  Once again, we see the thread of hope for the future after all the visions of judgment.