Specifically, Bamidbar Rabbah – a collection of rabbinic teachings on the Book of Numbers – gives us a vibrant picture. It tells us that each of the twelve tribes had its own unique banner, a kind of degel (insignia), when they camped in the wilderness. And these weren't just any flags; they were dazzling displays of color and symbolism.
Where did they get the idea? The text suggests that the inspiration came from the choshen, the breastplate worn by Aaron, the High Priest. Remember, the choshen was adorned with twelve precious stones, each representing a different tribe (Exodus 28:15–21). Bamidbar Rabbah says that the colors of the tribal banners mirrored the colors of these gems. And from this, the "empire learned to make a banner, with colors for each and every banner."
So, what did these banners actually look like? Well, buckle up, because here comes the description.
For Reuben, whose stone was a ruby, the banner was dyed red and featured mandrakes. Simeon's banner, reflecting the peridot stone, was green and depicted Shechem. The tribe of Levi, with its emerald stone, had a particularly interesting banner – one-third white, one-third black, and one-third red, with the urim ve-tumim (sacred divinatory objects) displayed upon it.
Judah, whose stone was a turquoise, carried a banner the color of the heavens, emblazoned with a lion. Issachar’s sapphire stone translated into a bluish-black banner depicting the sun and the moon, a nod to the tribe's understanding of the times, as we learn in I Chronicles 12:33: "From the children of Issachar, possessors of understanding of the times."
For Zebulun, the clear quartz stone meant a white banner with a ship, referencing the prophecy in Genesis 49:13: "Zebulun will dwell at the seashore, and he shall be a shore for ships." Dan’s banner, inspired by the jacinth stone, was sapphire-colored and featured a serpent, echoing Genesis 49:17: "Dan will be a serpent."
Gad’s agate stone led to a banner that was a mix of white and black, displaying an encampment, based on Genesis 49:19: "Gad will wage war by regiment." Naphtali, with its amethyst stone, had a banner the color of light red wine, depicting a hind, drawing from Genesis 49:21: "Naphtali is a hind let loose."
Asher's beryl stone resulted in a banner of the gem's color – a color often used for women’s adornments – and featured an olive tree, a reference to the tribe's rich bread (shemena) as described in Genesis 49:20. The connection between "rich bread" and the olive tree comes from the fact that it produces olive oil (shemen).
The tribe of Joseph gets a little more complex. Its onyx stone resulted in an exceedingly black banner, but it was divided between the two princes, Ephraim and Manasseh, because they were born in Egypt. Ephraim's portion displayed an ox, drawing from Deuteronomy 33:17: "The firstborn of his bull [is his majesty]." Rashi famously identifies this "bull" as Joshua bin Nun, who came from the tribe of Ephraim. Manasseh’s side featured an aurochs, inspired by the same verse: "And his horns are the horns of an aurochs," which Rashi connects to Gideon son of Yoash, who hailed from Manasseh.
Finally, Benjamin's chalcedony stone led to a banner that incorporated all twelve colors and depicted a wolf, based on Genesis 49:27: "Benjamin is a mauling wolf."
So, there you have it: a vibrant tapestry of colors, symbols, and tribal identities. What does it all mean? Well, perhaps it's a reminder that even in the vast wilderness, identity and belonging matter. Each tribe had its place, its purpose, and its unique contribution to the larger whole. And maybe, just maybe, the flags we fly today owe a little something to those ancient banners in the desert.