Day 54-11

V From the Exodus to the Crossing into Canaan - 1462-1422 B.C. ~ cont.

(1462 - 982 480 years of 1 Kings 6:1)

B. Time spent at Sinai (sometimes called Horeb) ~ cont.

33.  God reminds children of Israel to keep Passover - Numbers 9:1-4
34.  First Passover held - Numbers 9:5-14
35.  Preparation for leaving Sinai
a. Numbering of the people (603,550) - Numbers 1:1-54
b. Arrangement of the camp
(1) General order - Numbers 2:1-2, 17, 32-34
(2) Eastern division - Numbers 2:3-9
(3) Southern division - Numbers 2:10-16
(4) Western division - Numbers 2:18-24
(5) Northern division - Numbers 2:25-31

{pages 238-243}

Every man of the children of Israel shall pitch by his own standard, with the ensign of their father's house: far off about the tabernacle of the congregation shall they pitch.  (Numbers 2:2)

standard - H1714 - From H1713; a flag.

• H1713 - A primitive root; to flaunt, that is, raise a flag; figuratively to be conspicuous.

ensign - H226 - Probably from H225 (in the sense of appearing); a signal (literally or figuratively), as a flag, beacon, monument, omen, prodigy, evidence, etc.

• H225 - A primitive root; properly to come, that is, (impliedly) to assent.

One site I reviewed stated that an actual flag may not have been used due to the primitiveness of the culture.

Really?  Primitive?

That captured my attention.  Here we have master craftsmen who have followed a heavenly design, and carved, molded and weaved an elaborate Tabernacle.  I think if they did have flags, they were very well designed and not, as one poster on the site described, vexilloids.

Just to satisfy curiosity, the definition of a vexilloid:  "An object which functions as a flag but differs from it in some respect, usually appearance. Vexilloids are characteristic of traditional societies and often consist of a staff with an emblem, such as a carved animal, at the top."

I went searching for what may have been on the flags and found this site and this one.  These look 'primative' in their design, but still are worth the review.  I even found a youtube video, but did not think the quality and view-ability of the flags worth inclusion.  This page had stamps.  I retrieved most of my information from Flags of the Tribes of Israel page.

I found this article, which also referenced that there may have been a flag per division.  Which I would say nay to...simply because the Word clearly states "with the ensign of their father's house."  So per tribe flags.

I found this article while researching and was impressed with the observation portion.  Sharing:

3. Everything was positioned in relation to the presence of God, the tabernacle. God could have described where the tribe of Judah was in relation to the tribe of Dan, but He did not. The reference point was always God Himself.

a. It is hard to underestimate the trouble people get into in their walk with God because they position and measure themselves in reference to other people. God is to be our focus, not other people.

I had recently listened to a message online, directed toward youth at a conference, however the message is applicable to all saints.  We are not to measure ourselves in comparison to others.  Our plumb line is the Lord.

Father tells us to be holy and set apart.  Just as HE brought Israel up out of bondage, so too, HE brings us into new life and we are not to mimic the behavior, conduct, conversation of our previous land.  We are to give a proper estimate of our Heavenly home to which we are but brief ambassadors on this side of glory.