by
Dean
L. Bates, Past High Priest (IL)
The first three officers of a Chapter of Royal Arch Masons, namely, the
High Priest, King, and Scribe, are often referred to as the Grand Council. These officers represent Jeshua, Zerubbabel, and
Haggai, who formed the first grand council at Jerusalem following the return of
the Jews from Babylonish captivity in the year B.C.
In order to obtain an understanding of the lives and works of Jeshua,
Zerubbabel, and Haggai, it would appear necessary to first present a background
of the times in which they lived and to briefly review the history of the
Hebrew people.
Israel’s real history, as distinguished from legend, begins with the
entrance of the Hebrew tribes into Palestine and the conquest of the
Philistines by King David. After
conquering the Philistines, David subdued the surrounding nations. David reigned from 1010 to 975 B.C., and was
succeeded by one of his sons, Solomon, who ruled from 975 to 935 B.C.
