which pitch by hin meon: and the capti Simeon shall be Shel ddai.

ost, and those that were fifty and nine

Verse 2. "Every man... shall pitch by his own standard, with the ensign of their father's house." matter of great difficulty to determine what the standards were which at this early time we find Israelites. It seems therefore the best course to look in the first instance at the standards which v ancient nations, as furnishing the only materials on which we can found any conjecture or conclusi The invention of standards is attributed by ancient authors to the Egyptians, and this with great

EGYPTIAN STANDARDS.

us that the Egyptian standards consisted of the figure of an animal at the end of a spear. Among the Egyptiar tures and paintings there also appear other standards, which either resemble at top a round-headed table knife expanded semicircular fan. These latter are attributed to the Græco-Egyptians; but we are unable to find any factory data to show that they were other than varieties of most ancient Egyptian standards. The early employed for a standard a piece of armour at the end of a spear; but Homer makes Agamemnon use a purp with which to rally his men. The Athenians afterwards, in the natural progress which we observe in the hist ensigns, adopted the olive and the owl, and the other Greek nations also displayed the effigies of their tutelary or their particular symbols, at the end of a spear. Some of them had simply the initial letter of their national The ancient Persian standard is variously described. It seems properly to have been a golden eagle at the ene spear, fixed upon a carriage. They also employed the figure of the sun, at least on great occasions, when the kin present with his forces. Quintus Curtius mentions the figure of the sun, inclosed in crystal, which made a splendid appearance above the royal tent. We therefore presume it was the grand standard, particularly as ev this day, when Mohammedanism has eradicated most of the more peculiar usages of the Persians, the sun contin divide with the lion the honour of appearing on the royal standard. Among the very ancient sculptures at Perse we discover specimens of other standards, as exhibited in our engraving. One sort consists of a staff terminated divided ring, and having below a transverse bar from which two enormous tassels are suspended. The other co of five globular forms on a cross bar. They were doubtless of metal, and probably had some reference to the hea bodies, which were the ancient objects of worship in Persia. The proper royal standard of that country, howeve many centuries until the Mohammedan conquest, was a blacksmith's leathern apron, around which they had an time been rallied to a successful opposition against the odious tyranny of Zohauk. Many national standards arisen from similar emergencies, when that which was next at hand being seized and lifted up as a rallying poin the people, was afterwards, out of a sort of superstitious gratitude, adopted either as the common ensign or the sa banner. Thus also originated the horse-tails of the modern Turks, and the bundles of hay at the top of a pole w spear. Among the Egyptians a round-headed tabie ut we are unable to find an standards. The early s Agamemnon use a part ich we observe in the bis e effigies of their tutelary al letter of their national a golden eagle at the at occasions, when the ki in crystal, which made a p andard, particularly s e Persians, the sun co ncient sculptures at Prese ists of a staff terminatel spended. The other c some reference to the bere of that country, however, und which they had py national standaris as a rallying pa of thes

ROMAN STANDARDS.

presented the warlike deities, Mars or Minerva; but, after the extinction of the commonwealt
emperors and their favourites: it was on this account that the standards were called numina
religious veneration. The standards of different divisions had certain letters inscribed on them t
from the other. The standard of a legion, according to Dio, was a silver eagle with expanded w
spear, sometimes holding a thunderbolt in its claws; hence the word aquila was used to signify
for this standard was near the general, almost in the centre. Before the time of Marius figures of ot
The vexillum, or flag of the cavalry, was, according to Livy, y, a square piece of cloth, fixed to a cr
spear." These flags had sometimes fringes and ribands, and were used less restrictedly than Dr. M
The divisions of a legion had also their particular ensigns, sometimes simply attached to the end
times fixed below the images. An infantry flag was red; a cavalry one, blue; and that of a c
Roman standard is in the New Testament mentioned distinctly as "the abomination of deso
noticed them particularly under the general subject. As to the hand on the Roman standard, w
this day the flag-staff of the Persians terminates in a silver hand, as that of the Turks does in a
jan's conquest of the Dacians, the Romans adopted as a trophy the dragon, which was a general
rians.
The dragons were embroidered in cotton, silk, or purple. Mention is also made of
have been aigrettes of feathers of different colours, intended for signals or rallying points. An
plinths, with holes through them, are often found; and were ensigns intended to be placed upc
In the East, the use of standards fixed upon cars seems to have been long continued. We ha
was an usage in ancient Persia, and at a period long subsequent we find it existing among the Sa
History of Charlemagne,' mentions it as belonging to them. He says, "In the midst of them
by eight horses, upon which was raised their red banner. Such was its influence, that while the

Reuben

After this rapid glance at ancient standards, it remains to ask, to which of all these classes of ensign Hebrews approached the nearest? We readily confess that we do not know: but the Rabbins, who pre every thing, are very particular partic in their information on the subject. They leave out of view the ensigns guished the subdivisions of a tribe, and confine their attention to the tribe-standards; and in this it wi follow their example. They by no means agree among themselves ; but the view which they most genera is illustrated by the cut prefixed to this chapter, which is in accordance with the prevailing notion amon interpreters. They suppose that the standards were flags, bearing figures derived from the comparisons u in his final prophetic blessing on his sons. Thus they have Judah represented by a lion, Dan by a serpen by a wolf, &c. But, as long since observed by Sir Thomas Browne (Vulgar Errors, book v. ch. x.), the of the tribes, as determined by these ingenious triflers, do not in every instance correspond with any possi tation of Jacob's prophecy, nor with the analogo analogous prophecy of Moses, when about to die. The later J opinion that, with respect to the four grand divisions.t the standard of the camp of Judah represented a l Reuben, a man; that of Joseph, an ox; and that of Dan, an eagle: this was under the conception that ances in the cherubic vision of Ezekiel alluded to this division. The Targumists, however, believe that were distinguished by their colours, the colour for each tribe being analogous to that of the precious sto tribe, in the breast-plate of the high-priest; and that the great standard of each of the four camps combine colours of the tribes which composed it. They add, that the names of the tribes appeared on the standare with a particular sentence from the law; and were moreover charged with appropriate representations, as for Judah, &c. Aben Ezra and other Rabbins agree with the Targumists in other respects, but put in other tions than the latter assign. Lastly, the Cabbalists have an opinion that the bearings of the twelve stand opinion that sponded with the months of the year and the signs of the zodiac-the supposed characters of the latter b sented thereon; and that the distinction of the great standards was, that they bore the cardinal signs of Ari Libra, and Capricorn, and also charged with each one letter of the te tetragrammaton, or quadralitera God. Thus much for Rabbinical interpretation. Most modern expositors seem to incline to the opinion ensigns were flags, distinguished by their colours, or by the name of the tribe to which each belonged. This i as probable in itself as anything that can be offered; unless the instances we have given from the early other nations do not lead to the conclusion that flags were not the earliest but the ultimate form which assumed. We have in most instances seen them preceded by any object that would serve for a distinguishin such as leathern aprons, wisps of hay, pieces of armour, and horse-tails; then by metallic symbols and ima bined sometimes with feathers, tassels, and fringes; and then plain or figured flags, of linen or silk. Besides, prepation we have cited is founded on the hypothesis that all sculpture, painting, and other arts of design bidden to the Hebrews; and as we are not quite prepared to admit the existence of such a prohibition, we d absolutely bound, unless on its intrinsic probability, to receive an explanation which takes it for granted.

were

MODERN ORIENTAL STANDARDS.

Verse 3. "Camp." - This is the only regular description of an encampment which the Bible contains; but, from dental allusions, we may gather that the camps which the Hebrews in after-times formed in their mil tary opera differed in several respects from the present, the admirable arrangement of which is easily perceived, although difference of opinion exists as to a few of the details. The diagram below will exhibit the apparent order better a verbal description, however minute. It is thus seen that the camp was formed in a quadrangle, having on each three tribes under one general standard. How these tribes were placed with regard to each other is not very c some fix the leading tribe in the centre, and the two others on each side; but the description seems rather to cate that the leading tribe extended along the whole exterior line, and that the two other tribes pitched beside other, within. The only other alternative seems to be, to suppose that the two minor tribes also extended in full the last tribe mentioned in each division, being the innermost. The collective encampment enclosed a large

which of all these classes s

do not know: but the Rablus They leave out of new the exc *he trite-standards; and tha

ut the view which thermost

ance with the prevailing tut gares derived from the comm resented by a hon. Dan

Vulgar Errors. book v. ch.

of the tabernacle, and pitched their tents around it; the tents of Moses, Aaron and the priests, o honourable place, fronting the entrance to the tabernacle, or rather to the court which contained it. say that the circumference of the entire encampment was about twelve miles; a statement which ciently moderate when we recollect the hollow square in the centre, and consider the vast extent o for the tents of two millions of people. This egular and admirable arrangement of so vast a host, un around the tabernacle, must have given a most striking and impressive appearance to the camp, as vie We know the effect which the view of it produced upon one person, who did view it from the hills, an in rapture, exclaiming, "How goodly are they tents, O Jacob! and thy tabernacles, O Israel! As th spread forth, as the trees of lign aloes which the Lord hath planted, and as cedar trees beside th xxiv. 5, 6.)

y instance correspond with an pha ses, when about to die. The f the camp of Jodah represece this was under the concertin Le Targumists, however, belete calogous to that of the precise d of each of the four camps the tribes appeared in the staalam with appropriate representation a s in other respects, but pate at the bearings of the twere s supposed characters of the they bore the cardinal siya dis e tetragrammaton, or a rs seem to incline to the pas be to which each belonged s we have given from the a est but the ultimate form wi Gat would serve for a dis then by metallic symbosa d flags, of linen of silk. Bes inting, and other arts of s ence of such a prohibition which takes it for graatel

t

th

NORTH.-FOURTH DIVISION-CAMP OF DAN: 157,600.

Bible contains: but fom in d in their mil tary opers sily perceived, although be apparent order betie drangle, having on sch ach other is not very dist iption seems rather th tribes pitched beside also extended in full in closed a large

CHAPTER III.

1 The sons of Aaron. 5 The Levites are given to
the priests for the service of the tabernacle, 11 in-
stead of the firstborn. 14 The Levites are num-
bered by their families. 21 The families, number,
and charge of the Gershonites, 27 of the Kohath-
tes, 33 of the Merarites. 38 The place and charge
of Moses and Aaron. 40 The firstborn are freed

by the Levites. 44 The overplus are redeemed.

THESE also are the generations of Aaron and
Moses in the day that the LORD spake with
Moses in mount Sinai.

2 And these are the names of the sons
of Aaron; Nadab the 'firstborn, and Abihu,
Eleazar, and Ithamar.

of

Aaron, the priests which w whom he consecrated to m priest's office.

4 And Nadab and Abihu the LORD, when they offered before the LORD, in the wilder and they had no children: anc Ithamar ministered in the pr the sight of Aaron their father

5 And the LORD spakė saying,

6 Bring the tribe of Levin sent them before Aaron the pr may minister unto him.

7 And they shall keep his