Jehozadak (also known as Josedek) was the son of the high priest Seraiah and the father of the high priest Joshua (Jeshua), who led the rebuilding of the temple after the exile. Jehozadak was taken into captivity when Nebuchadnezzar conquered Jerusalem and destroyed the temple in 586 BC. His significance lies primarily in his role as a link in the high priestly lineage between the first and second temples.
Jehozadak is mentioned as the son of Seraiah in the high priestly lineage that traces back to Aaron through Zadok. This line documents the legitimate priestly succession.
Jehozadak was taken away when the Lord allowed Judah and Jerusalem to be carried off by Nebuchadnezzar. This marked the interruption of the high priestly service in the temple.
Jehozadak is known as the father of Joshua (Jeshua), who became high priest after returning from Babylon and led the rebuilding of the altar and temple together with Zerubbabel.
2Then Jeshua son of Jozadak and his fellow priests, together with Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and his kinsmen, set to work and rebuilt the altar of the God of Israel, to offer burnt offerings on it as prescribed in the Law of Moses, the man of God.
8In the second month of the second year after their arrival at the house of God in Jerusalem, Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and Jeshua son of Jozadak, along with the rest of their kinsmen—the priests and the Levites and all who had come back from captivity to Jerusalem—began the work, and they appointed Levites twenty years old and upward to supervise the building of the house of the LORD.
2Then Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and Jeshua son of Jozadak set to work and began to rebuild the house of God in Jerusalem, and the prophets of God were with them, supporting them.
1In the second year of King Darius, on the first day of the sixth month, the word of the LORD came through the prophet Haggai to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest:
12Then Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and all the remnant of the people obeyed the voice of the LORD their God and the words of the prophet Haggai, because the LORD their God had sent him. And the people feared the LORD.
14So the LORD stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, the spirit of Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and the spirit of all the remnant of the people. They came and began to work on the house of the LORD of hosts, their God,
2Speak now to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, to Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and to the remnant of the people. Say to them:
4Yet be strong now, Zerubbabel, declares the LORD. Be strong, Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest. Be strong, all you people of the land, declares the LORD, and get to work, for I am with you, declares the LORD of hosts.
The prophet Zechariah receives a vision where the high priest Joshua, son of Jehozadak, stands before the angel of the Lord and is cleansed from guilt, symbolizing the people's restoration.
1Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, with Satan standing at his right hand to accuse him. [footnote: The Hebrew reads "the satan," that is, "the accuser" or "the adversary."]
2And the LORD said to Satan, "The LORD rebuke you, Satan! The LORD, who has chosen Jerusalem, rebuke you! Is this man not a brand snatched from the fire?"
4And the angel said to those standing before him, "Take the filthy garments off him." Then he said to Joshua, "See, I have taken your guilt away from you, and I will clothe you in fine robes."
5And I said, "Let them put a clean turban on his head." So they placed a clean turban on his head and clothed him in fresh garments, while the angel of the LORD stood by.
7"This is what the LORD of hosts says: If you walk in my ways and keep my requirements, then you shall govern my house and watch over my courts, and I will give you a place among those who stand here.
8Listen now, Joshua the high priest, you and your companions seated before you—for they are men who serve as a sign: I am going to bring my servant, the Branch.
2Then Jeshua son of Jozadak and his fellow priests, together with Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and his kinsmen, set to work and rebuilt the altar of the God of Israel, to offer burnt offerings on it as prescribed in the Law of Moses, the man of God.