-
Articles/Ads
Article THE BANNERS OR STANDARDS. Page 1 of 4 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Banners Or Standards.
THE BANNERS OR STANDARDS .
BY BROTHER GEORGE AARON 8 . " Every man of the children of Israel shall pitch by his own standard , with the ensign of their father ' s house , far off about the tabernacle of the congregation shall they pitch . "—Numbers , ii . 2 . The following is an extract from the commentaries of some of the
most eminent and learned Jewish authors , who have so ably dilated on the subject , and clearly explained for our understanding the situation of the Israelites at their encampments ; in fact , without such exposition , it would have been impossible for us properly lo understand the subject ; more particularly as regards the devices on the four grand Standards or Banners , nor the object of their being placed in the manner as directed in the Bible , which simply directs the standards to be placed in a
certain position . This plainly shows the necessity of being acquainted with the Hebrew language , in which all the commentaries on Holy Writ are to be found , so as to become conversant with the several nice points and elucidations which cannot be ascertained by a mere knowledge of the translation of the plain text . The Almighty , after having in the first chapter of the Book of Numbersdirected the numbering of the peopleproceeds to point out the
, , manner in which the twelve tribes of Israel should be disposed of , in their encampments , so that perfect order and regularity might be observed throughout the whole of the army ; and thus they should become properly organized and well disciplined . The twelve tribes were divided into four head quarters , ( representing
the four quarters of the globe ) , three tribes to each quarter . ' There were four Royal Standards , or Banners , viz ., one at each quarter . Each of the Banners bore a certain device , characteristic of the principal and foremost tribe to which such Banner was attachedl The camp was thus formed into a square , the centre being appropriated for the Tabernacle of the Lord , guarded by the Priests and Levites , who were stationed there by the special appointment of the Deity , under
the able superintendence of Moses and Aaron , the immediate servants of the Lord , and thus it was that the ark containing the decalogue engraved on the two tablets of stone , was carefully preserved from all danger . The four principal Standards were those of the tribes of Judah , Reuben , Ephraim , and Dan , bearing the following devices : —On that of Judah , a lion ; on that of Reuben , the head of a man ; on that of Ephraim , an ox ; and on that of Dan , an eagle . Each standard was of the colour of
that stone in Aaron ' s Pectoral , upon which the name of the tribe whereunto it belonged was written . This regulation afforded great facility to the people , in retiring from , and returning to , the quarter to which they belonged . We will now proceed to explain the situation of the tribes in each quarter . How and why certain tribes were placed with each other in preference to any of the others , the object of the several devices on the of the
Banner four principal Standards , and the reason why those tribes were selected to bear those ensigns of dignity . The tribe of Judah was placed in front of the camp , on the East side toward the rising of the sun , accompanied by the tribes of Issachar and
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Banners Or Standards.
THE BANNERS OR STANDARDS .
BY BROTHER GEORGE AARON 8 . " Every man of the children of Israel shall pitch by his own standard , with the ensign of their father ' s house , far off about the tabernacle of the congregation shall they pitch . "—Numbers , ii . 2 . The following is an extract from the commentaries of some of the
most eminent and learned Jewish authors , who have so ably dilated on the subject , and clearly explained for our understanding the situation of the Israelites at their encampments ; in fact , without such exposition , it would have been impossible for us properly lo understand the subject ; more particularly as regards the devices on the four grand Standards or Banners , nor the object of their being placed in the manner as directed in the Bible , which simply directs the standards to be placed in a
certain position . This plainly shows the necessity of being acquainted with the Hebrew language , in which all the commentaries on Holy Writ are to be found , so as to become conversant with the several nice points and elucidations which cannot be ascertained by a mere knowledge of the translation of the plain text . The Almighty , after having in the first chapter of the Book of Numbersdirected the numbering of the peopleproceeds to point out the
, , manner in which the twelve tribes of Israel should be disposed of , in their encampments , so that perfect order and regularity might be observed throughout the whole of the army ; and thus they should become properly organized and well disciplined . The twelve tribes were divided into four head quarters , ( representing
the four quarters of the globe ) , three tribes to each quarter . ' There were four Royal Standards , or Banners , viz ., one at each quarter . Each of the Banners bore a certain device , characteristic of the principal and foremost tribe to which such Banner was attachedl The camp was thus formed into a square , the centre being appropriated for the Tabernacle of the Lord , guarded by the Priests and Levites , who were stationed there by the special appointment of the Deity , under
the able superintendence of Moses and Aaron , the immediate servants of the Lord , and thus it was that the ark containing the decalogue engraved on the two tablets of stone , was carefully preserved from all danger . The four principal Standards were those of the tribes of Judah , Reuben , Ephraim , and Dan , bearing the following devices : —On that of Judah , a lion ; on that of Reuben , the head of a man ; on that of Ephraim , an ox ; and on that of Dan , an eagle . Each standard was of the colour of
that stone in Aaron ' s Pectoral , upon which the name of the tribe whereunto it belonged was written . This regulation afforded great facility to the people , in retiring from , and returning to , the quarter to which they belonged . We will now proceed to explain the situation of the tribes in each quarter . How and why certain tribes were placed with each other in preference to any of the others , the object of the several devices on the of the
Banner four principal Standards , and the reason why those tribes were selected to bear those ensigns of dignity . The tribe of Judah was placed in front of the camp , on the East side toward the rising of the sun , accompanied by the tribes of Issachar and