Why were Yehudah, Reuven, Efrayim and Dan chosen to lead the four Degalim?
R. Bachye: Because they correspond to the four leading Mal'achim with their respective camps of Mal'achim that surround the Shechinah: "Yehudah - Gavri'el; Reuven - Micha'el; Efrayim - Refa'el; Dan - Uri'el. 1
Oznayim la'Torah #1: So that, with the exception of the camp of Dan, 2 they would combine with their two maternal brothers, 3 who are generally particularly close 4 - for the sake of peace.
Oznayim la'Torah #2 (citing Abarbanel): Because they represented the four Chayos that supported the Kisei ha'Kavod 5 - a lion (king of the Chayos), a man (king of the world), an ox (king of the Beheimos) and an eagle (king of the birds). 6
See R. Bachye who elaborates in detail.
See Oznayim la'Torah, DH "Degel Machaneh Yehudah #3.
Oznayim la'Torah: As hinted in Re'ei, Devarim, 13:7 " ? ki Yesischa Achicha ben Imecna" - See Kidushin 80b.
Oznayim la'Torah: Which Yechezkel saw in his opening vision
Although the other tribes did not have a large flag, each tribe had a small flag - a piece of cloth dyed with the color of its stone on the Choshen with its own appropriate picture: Shimon - a picture of Sh'chem; Levi - Urim ve'Tumim; Yisachar - a sun and a moon ('Yod'ei Binah la'Itim') Zevulsun -a ship; Menasheh - Binyami - a wolf; Gad - a troop of soldiers; Asher - an olive-tree.
What is the significance of the order of the four camps - Yehudah in the east, Reuven in the south, Efrayim in the west and Dan in the north?
Ramban: It is equivalent to the movement of the sun during the day 1 - It rises on the east 2 , and travels round the south to the west, before disappearing and (invisibly) crossing the earth on the north.
Which is called 'light' and befits Yehudah, the tribe of Malchus. The flag of Yehudah is therefore first, as the Pasuk writes in Michah, 2:13 "va'Ya'avor Malkam Lifneihem, va'Hashem be'Rosham". Refer also to 2:3:2:1.
What is the significance of dividing the Camp into twelve?
R. Bachye (citing a Midrash): To demonstrate Hashem's love towards Yisrael - the only good 'barrel of wine' in a cellar full of wine that turned sour. 1
As the Pasuk writes in Shir Hashirim 2:4 "ve'Diglo alai Ahavah'. See R.Bachye on page 16, who elaborates.
What is the meaning of the word "Keidmah"?
Rashi: It means 'on the east side', since Degel Machaneh Yehudah was the first to travel. 1
Rashi: Which is synonymous with 'in front' or 'first'; and the west is therefore called "Achor" ('at the back' or 'last'). Rosh - Yehudah is always first - for the Degalim, for Korbanos Chanukas ha'Mishkan, for war, and to be informed of the Ge'ulah.
Why did specifically Yisachar and Zevulun join Yehudah to form Degel Machaneh Yehudah?
Ramban #1 (in Pasuk 2): Together with the three tribes of Degel Machaneh Reuven - Reuven, Shimon and Gad, they comprised the sons of Le'ah - including Gad, 1 the firstborn of her maidservant Zilpah.
R. Bachye: Because Yehudah were all Ba'alei-Torah - as hinted in the word "ba'Rishonah" 3 , Yisachar is classified as Yod'ei Binah" 4 and the Navi in Shoftim 5:14 writes "u'mi'Zevulun Moshchim be'Sheivet Sofer" (the staff of scribes). 5
Oznayim la'Torah: Because Yehudah represented the Crown of Malchus and Yisachar (who were Talmidei-Chachamim) and Zevulun (who supported them) the Crown of Torah - which go hand in hand. 6
To replace Levi, who did not encamp together with the other tribes. Refer to Bereishis, 12:1:1:1*.
Which is synonymous with Chochmah. See R. Chave l's footnotes end of page 12 & page 13.
Later in the Dibur, R. Bachye states that R. Bachye: All three became great in Torah because they encamped close to Moshe and Aharon.
See Oznayim la'Torah on Pasuk 5, who elaborates on the role of the B'nei Zevulun and their relationship with the B'nei Yisachar.
Why did the three tribes that comprised Degel Machaneh Yehudah (Yehudah, Yisachar and Zevulun) encamp specifically in the east?
Ramban (citing Midrash Rabah) 1 : Hashem said to Moshe: 'Yehudah, the designated sovereign, 2 shall encamp in the east, from where light comes to the world; next to him, is Yisachar, the master of Torah, 3 and then Zevulun, the master of wealth. 4 They will travel first!' 5
Hadar Zekenim: Yehudah was a king, and it was Kavod for the Mishkan that the king is in the east.
Which is called 'light' (See R. Chavel's footnotes).
See R. Chavel's footnotes.
See Vay'chi, Bereishis 49:13 and ve'Zos ha'Berachah, Devarim 33:19. See also R. Chavel's footnotes, who explains that Torah and wealth are also called 'light.'
As the Pasuk writes in Michah, 2:13 "Vaya'avor Malkam Lifneihem, va'Hashem be'Rosham".
What was the area of each Machaneh and of the whole of Machaneh Yisrael, including Machaneh Leviyah?
Targum Yonasan: The area of each Machaneh - including that of Machaneh Leviyah - was four by four Mil, and the total area twelve by twelve Milin. 1
Which is synonymous with one Parsah and three Parsa'os, respectively.
Why does the Torah write "ve'ha'Chonim" - with a 'Vav' - only by Degel Machaneh Yehudah?
