[750] Tradunt Hebræi, filios Israelita castrametatos fuisse in circuitu tabernaculi ut unum milliare interfuerit (i.) spacium mille passuum, & hoc erat iter Sabbati. P. Fag. Num. 2. 3.
After this, pitched the Camp of Levi: in the Eastern part Moses, Aaron, and the Priests; in the South the Cohathites; in the West the Gershonites; in the North the Merarites.
In the middle was the Camp of the Divine Majesty. Unto this David alludeth: God is in the middest of her, she shall not be moved, Psal. 46. 5.
After the same manner the parts of the City Jerusalem were distinguished, when the Commonwealth was setled.[751] From the gate of Jerusalem, to the mountain of the Temple, was the Camp of Israel; from the gate of the mountain of the Temple, to the gate of the Court (which was otherwise called Nicanors gate) was the Camp of Levi: from the gate of the Court, and forward, was the Camp of the Divine Majesty.
[751] Maimon. in Bethhabchirab. c. 7. sect. 11.
Furthermore we are to know, that the twelve Tribes had between them four principal Banners, or Standards; three Tribes to one Standard: for which reason, the Church is said to be terrible as an Army with banners, Can. 6. 4. The Hebrew word Banner, Numb. 2. 2. the Greek[752] translateth Order and so the Caldee calleth it Tekes[753] (a word borrowed of the Greek τάξις) order: Whence the Apostle taketh his phrase, Every man in his own order, 1 Cor. 15. 23.
[752] Ἄνθρωπος ἐχόμενος κατὰ τάγμα αὐτοῦ.
[753] גבר על טקסיה Quisque juxta ordinatam suam aciem.
Every banner was thought to be of 3 colours,[754] according to the colours of the precious stones in the brest-plate, bearing the names of their Patriarchs. But this proportion will not hold in all, seeing Levi (who is not here among the other Tribes) was in the breast-plate one of the twelve: and Joseph there graved on the Beril hath here two Tribes, Ephraim and Manasses, unto whom two colours cannot be allowed from the breast plate.
[754] Jonathan Uzel. Num. 2. 3.