Hear now, O Joshua the high priest, you, and your fellows that sit before you: for they are a wondrous sign: for, behold, I will bring forth my servant the BRANCH.
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Ambrose of Milan
AD 397
Of him he speaks also through the mouth of Ezekiel, saying, “And I will set up one shepherd over them, and my servant David will rule them, and he will be their shepherd. And I the Lord will be their God, and my servant David the prince in the midst of them.” Of course, David the king was already dead, but the true David, the truly humble, the truly meek, the true Son of God, strong of hand, is foretold by this name. He also is pointed out in the book of the prophet Zechariah, God the father saying, “I will bring my servant, the Orient is his name.” Although he wore sinsoiled garments, was not the Sun of justice clothed with the splendor of his divinity? Letter
Portending men. That is, men who by words and actions are to foreshew wonders that are to come; (Challoner) or rather they require prodigies before they will take courage to build the temple; or they understand how to explain such things. (Calmet)
Orient; Christ, who according to his humanity is the servant of God, is called the Orient, from his rising like the sun in the east to enlighten the world. (Challoner)
St. Luke explains this of Christ, (Worthington) recording the words of Zacharias. (Haydock)
Christ's birth was most pure. He gave light to the world. Some would explain this of Zorobabel; but as he was already present, it would seem more applicable to Nehemias. Yet both were only figures of Christ, and could not efface the iniquity of Juda The Messias is styled the Bud, chap. vi. 12., and Isaias iv. 2. (Calmet)
Tsemach signifies either "the bud or the orient. "(Haydock)
My servant the Orient: Christ, who according to his humanity is the servant of God, is called the Orient from his rising like the sun in the east to enlighten the world.
