Meaning of FLAG

Each tribe had its own flag, "degel", and each family its own banner, "oth". In the camp the twelve tribes were arranged so that there were three on each side, and one of the three gave its name to that side of the camp.

Thus, the flag of Judah is called the flag of the camp of Judah, which was to the east; The camp of Reuben was to the south, the camp of Ephraim to the west, and the camp of Dan to the north. See CAMP.

The Scriptures do not specify the shapes of the flags or ensigns. The rabbis say that the flag of Judah resembled a "lion" (cp. Gen. 49:9; Rev. 5:5), that of Reuben to a " man", that of Ephraim to an "ox" (cp Deut. 33:17); and Dan's, to an "eagle."

If so, we have that these same forms appear on the faces of the living creatures in Ez. 1:10 and Rev. 4:4-7. It is used as a beautiful figure of God's love (Song 2: 4) The Lord calls believers to unite under his banner, which He raises against all the attacks of the enemy (Is. 59:19).