What’s with the flags?

By Yehuda Israel

Throughout history Jews have invented many things. One of the lesser known inventions is the flag since this parsha describes one of the earliest uses of them. The Torah commanded Am Yisrael that every time they encamped in the desert they had to set up their camp in a particular manner. The Abarbenel explains that the purpose was to prevent people from setting up camp wherever they wanted. So the Torah commanded that the mishkan (tabernacle) was in the center surrounded by the Tribe of Levi. East of the mishkan camped the tribes of Yehuda, Issachar and Zebulon. The tribes of Reuben, Simeon and Gad camped south. Ephraim, Menasha and Benjamin camped in the West. Dan, Asher and Naphtali camped in the North. The first tribes in each of these four directions were the main tribe of their group. They were also given flags to identify them.

There is an argument in the commentaries as to how many flags there were. Rashi writes that each tribe had their own flag consisting of a single color that corresponds to the color of the tribe’s gem on the kohen gadol’s breastplate. The Ibn Ezra argues and says that each of four main tribes had a symbol on their flag. There was a face of man of the flag of Reuben, a lion on flag of Yehuda, an ox on the flag of Ephraim, and an eagle on the tribe of Dan. This corresponds to figures that are on Hashem’s divine chariot that is described by the prophet Ezekiel.

The Ramban adds that the camp moved east, which meant that Yehuda was the first to travel because the verse says that Yehuda shall go up first. Reuben, the first born, traveled second. Therefore these two camps consisted of the children of Leah. This left another camp for the children of Rachel, Ephraim, and the last camp, Dan, for the maidservants.

The Ramban quotes a midrash that says, “And just as the Hashem created four directions in the universe, so too, did he surround his throne with four living creatures” (Bamidbar Rabbah 2:9). Light comes from the east, therefore Yehuda, the tribe of kingship will be first in the east. Next to Yehuda is Issachar because he studies Torah. Next came Zebulon because he was wealthy and supported the Torah learning of Issachar. Therefore they traveled first. From the south comes rain and dew which bring blessing to the world. Therefore Reuben is in the south because he the master of repentance (he repented for moving Bilha’s bed). Gad has the trait of heroism. Simeon is between them to atone for him causing anguish to his father. They traveled second because repentance is second to Torah. The west is full of storehouses of snow and hail, which correspond to Ephraim, Menasha and Benjamin. The Devine Presence rests in the west, within Benjamin as the Torah says, “Of Benjamin, Moshe said: The beloved of the Eternal shall dwell in safety by him” (5:33:12). Darkness comes from the north which corresponds to Dan who darkened the world through idols made by King Jeroboam. Asher has the attribute of illumination and therefore is placed next to Dan. Next to him is Naphtali, who is filled with blessing.

The Kli Yakar quotes a midrash (Bamidbar Rabbah 2:4) that states that when Am Yisrael saw the angels at Mt. Sinai carrying their flags, they also desired to have their own flags. One might suggest that the flag is a way to praise Hashem.

Quoting the same midrash the Kli Yakar says that nations of the world were awed when they saw the flags of Am Yisrael. Kli Yakar explains that the main desire of Am Yisrael was to show the nations of the world that Hashem chose us. Therefore, we raise the flags high in the four directions to show our eternal existence in all four directions of the world. All the nations of the world see us surrounding the mishkan, going in the way of Hashem, symbolizing that Hashem is eternal and that we will be victorious in fighting for the name of Hashem.


Shabbat Shalom