Lives of Scripture

Heldai was one of three men -- along with Tobijah and Jedaiah -- named as recently returned exiles from Babylon whose silver and gold the LORD instructed Zechariah to collect (Zechariah 6:10; the crown is later said to be a memorial "to Helem," likely an alternate form of Heldai's name, in verse 14). Zechariah was told to take the offering and make from it "an elaborate crown," then set it on the head of Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest (6:11). The act was a prophetic sign: Zechariah was to declare over Joshua, "Behold, a man whose name is Branch... He will build the temple of the LORD and bear the honor and sit and rule on His throne. Thus, He will be a priest on His throne, and the counsel of peace will be between the two offices" (6:12-13) -- a picture of the coming Messiah uniting kingship and priesthood, offices Israel had always kept separate. The crown itself was to remain in the temple "as a reminder" to Heldai and his companions of the promise their gift had helped enact (6:14). Heldai performs no independent action beyond bringing his offering from exile, but Scripture ties his generosity directly to one of the Old Testament's clearest prophetic pictures of the Messiah's dual office.