זכריה, פרק ג׳, פסוק ג׳

In a dramatic prophetic vision, Joshua the High Priest stands for judgment before an angel of God, his outward appearance serving as a direct reflection of his current state. He is dressed in filthy, soiled garments [מצודת ציון, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. The primary approach among commentators is that this dirt is not physical, but rather a metaphor for spiritual stains and sins that have attached themselves to Joshua. The central fault attributed to him lies with his family. His sons had married foreign women or women who were unfit for the priesthood, such as those who were divorced. Because Joshua failed to protest or stop their actions, he bears the guilt and faces punishment [רש״י, רד״ק, מצודת דוד, צאינה וראינה].

However, [אבן עזרא] challenges this view by pointing out a historical discrepancy, noting that the intermarriages of Joshua's sons actually occurred after his death. Therefore, he offers an alternative explanation, suggesting the soiled clothing represents a severe lack of honor and splendor. At that time, the Temple was not yet fully rebuilt and lacked many of its holy vessels. The High Priest did not have his magnificent golden vestments, leaving him in simple garments that reflected this absence of glory.

This alternative approach is met with resistance from other scholars. [אברבנאל] argues that simply lacking garments of honor does not justify describing the clothes as genuinely filthy. Addressing the historical timeline, [מלבי״ם] resolves the issue by asserting that Joshua's sons did, in fact, marry these women while he was still alive. He further explains the symbolism: since the heavenly trial focused on Joshua's fitness to continue serving in the High Priesthood, his spiritual shortcomings manifested directly upon his priestly garments, rendering them soiled and unfit for service.

Taking the imagery to a profound conceptual level, [אהבת יהונתן] suggests a completely different meaning. The garment acts as a metaphor for the physical body, which serves as the clothing for the soul. Because the human body is formed from dust, it is inherently limited and flawed by nature. Consequently, even exceptionally righteous individuals like Joshua remain bound by the constraints of physical matter and the reality of natural death.