Each Banner had its several motto, or inscription. In the first Standard was written, from Num. 10. 25. Rise up, Lord, and let thine enemies be scattered, and let them that hate thee flee before thee. It is moreover taught by the Hebrews,[755] that each Standard had a distinct sign engraven in it. Reubens Standard had the Image of a Man: Judahs the Image of a Lion: Ephraims the Image of an Ox: and Dans the Image of an Eagle.
[755] Dicunt in vexillo Reuben fuisse imaginem hominis: in vexillo Jehudah imaginem leonis: in vexillo Ephraim imaginem bovis: in vexillo Dan, imaginem aquilæ P. Fag. Numb. 2. Aben Esra, ibidem.
These same four creatures are used by Ezekiel, Ez. 1. 10. to describe the nature of Angels. Every Cherubim is said to have four faces: the face of a man; to shew his understanding; of a Lion, to shew his power; of an Ox, to shew his ministratory office; of an Eagle to shew his swiftness in the execution of Gods will.[756] The same description of Angels you may find, Rev. 4. 6.
[756] Angeli ex hoc versu definiri possunt; sunt enim spiritus intelligentes, ut homo, potentes ut Leo, ministratorij ut Bos, & celeres ut aquila. Tremel. in Ezek. 1.
By the same four, in the opinion of many of the Fathers,[757] are shadowed forth the four Evangelists. The man shadowed S. Matthew, because he begins his Gospel with the Generation of Christ, according to his humanity: The Lyon S. Mark, because he beginneth his Gospel, from that voice of the Lion roaring in the Wilderness, Vox clamantis in deserto: The Ox S. Luke, because he beginneth with Zacharias the Priest: and the Eagle S. John, who soaring aloft beginneth with the Divinity of Christ.
[757] Hieronym. ad initium sui commentarii in Mat. It. Gregor. homil. 4. in Ezek. ab Hieronim. dissentit. D. Augustinus in Matthæo & Marco, nam in Leone Mattheum, Marcum, in homine putat adumbratum. August. de consensu Evangelist. l. 1. c. 6.
Thus have we seen how they pitch’d their camps, their marching followeth: and here we are to consider, first, their marching in their journeys thorow the Wilderness. Secondly, their marching in their battels.
Concerning their marching in their journeys, they either moved forward, or abode still, according to the moving or standing of the Cloud, which conducted them: the manner thereof is described, Numb. 10. and summarily we may view it thus: when God took up the Cloud, Moses prayed, and the Priests with Trumpets blew an alarm, then Judah the first Standard rose up, with Issachar and Zebulon, and they marched foremost: then followed the Gershonites and Merarites, bearing the boards and coverings of the Tabernacle in wagons; the Trumpets sounded the second alarm, then Reuben, Simeon, and Gad rose up and followed the Tabernacle, and after them went the Kohathites, in the midst of the twelve Tribes, bearing on their shoulders the Ark, Candlestick, Table, Altar, and other holy things. At the third alarm rose up the Standard of Ephraim, Manasses, and Benjamin, and these followed the Sanctuary: unto this David hath reference, when he prayeth, Psa. 80. 2. Before Ephraim, Benjamin, and Manasses, stir up thy strength, and come and save us. At the fourth alarm, arose the Standard of Dan, Asher, and Napthali: and to these was committed the care of gathering together the lame, feeble, and sick, and to look that nothing was left behind: whence they are called the gathering Host, Josh. 6. 9. unto this David alludeth: when my Father and my Mother forsake me, the Lord will gather me, Psal. 27. 10.
Concerning their marching in War: First, the Priests sounded the alarm with Trumpets, Num. 10. 9. this they termed: Therugnah.[758] Secondly, one Priest was selected out of the rest, to stir up the hearts of the people, and by a kind of hortatory Oration, to encourage them to the war, Deut. 20. 2. him they called Unctum belli, the anointed of the battel. Thirdly, they marched on by five and five in battel-array, Exo. 13. 18. so the Original signifieth in that place.[759]