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The House of Israel

Symbols of Our Celto-Saxon place to place. The three tribes forming the Brigade of
Heritage Judah went first, followed in order by the Brigades of
Reuben, Ephraim and Dan.
The "Brigade" Emblems: While the Bible does not actually state what the em-
blems on the standards of the four Brigades or Camps
Having considered Israel's tribal emblems and hav- were, nevertheless it does offer evidence which
ing noted the fact that at least nineteen of them are in clearly indicates that they were a Lion, a Man, an Ox
use today as emblems of the Celto-Saxon peoples, let and an Eagle. This is corroborated by the statements of
us now turn again to that statement concerning them in Jewish authorities, both ancient and modern, and by
Numbers 2:2 -- "Every man of the children of Israel certain Masonic traditions. When we consider these
shall pitch by his own standard, with the ensign of their emblems we see that three of them, those on the stan-
father's house." Here we see that, in addition to being dards of Judah, Reuben and Ephraim, are simply larger
required to have and to encamp under the tribal em- and more ornate versions of their tribal emblems; but
blems or ensigns, the Israel people were also com- in the case of Dan this procedure was not followed. In-
manded to set up standards. When the whole of this stead, for some reason not yet apparent, an Eagle was
second chapter of Numbers is read, a very interesting chosen. It should also be noted that, originally and usu-
picture emerges. This word-picture shows the organ- ally, the Lion on the emblem of the Brigade of Judah
izational arrangement of the Twelve Tribes as it was did not have a Crown.
during the forty-year period of wandering and encamp-
ing in the Midian wilderness after their exodus from That these were the emblems of the four Camps of
Egypt. Israel is indicated by two statements in the Bible. In
the first of these, as recorded in the first chapter of
As we examine this arrangement of the tribes, we Ezekiel, the prophet is given a vision of the "Glory of
see that they were divided into four Camps of three the Lord" and around the base of this "Glory" he sees
tribes each. When encamped, they formed a hollow the likenesses of four living creatures (v. 10): a Man, a
square or circle with one Camp (three tribes) on each Lion, an Ox and an Eagle. Likewise, as recorded in the
side facing inward. When moving from place to place fourth chapter of the Book of Revelation. John is
the three tribes of each Camp marched together as a given a vision of the Throne and Glory of God, and
Brigade, the four Brigades forming a column. Then we here again, around its base and facing it, are four living
see that, while on the march or in camp, each tribe creatures: a Lion, a Calf, a Man and an Eagle.
must display its tribal emblem or ensign and, further,
that one of the three tribes in each Brigade was ap- In these two visions we have an almost exact picture
pointed to be the leader; further that the emblem of of the Camp of Israel. Even as in these visions, the
this tribe then became the emblem or the standard of Throne and Glory of God has around its base four
that Brigade. beasts or living creatures which have the appearance of
a Lion, a Man, an Ox and an Eagle; so also in the Camp
The arrangement of the tribes in this encampment is of Israel there was at its centre the Tabernacle in
very interesting. On the east side was the Camp or Bri- which, over the Ark of the Covenant, hovered the mys-
gade of Judah, composed of the Tribes of Judah, Issa- terious fire or light called the Shekinah or the Glory of
char and Zebulun. On the south was the Camp or the Lord. In view of the statements in Exodus 25:22, 2
Brigade of Reuben, composed of the Tribes of Samuel 6:2, 2 Kings 19:15 and Psalms 80:1, it is evi-
Reuben, Simeon and Gad. On the west was the Camp or dent that this "Glory" was a visible manifestation of
Brigade of Ephraim, composed of the Tribes of God's Presence at the centre of His own Kingdom-
Ephraim, Manasseh and Benjamin. And on the north nation. Thus, at least during the time of Israel's wan-
was the Camp or Brigade of Dan, composed of the dering, the Ark of the Covenant was His (earthly)
Tribes of Dan, Asher and Naphtali. A similar arrange- Throne and so, in the Camp of Israel, even as it was in
ment of the tribes was followed when marching from
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