Many of Israel's tribal emblems appear on both Royal and Civil Coats of Arms
throughout the world to this day. (See "Symbols of a Celto-Saxon Heritage
by W. H. Bennett, copyright 1976 - published by Covenant Books.)
Banners have been known as a symbol of
national heritage since history was first recorded. There are records of tribal
banners in the Bible's Old Testament.
Long before the Exodus, Jacob (father of the Israel
nation) blessed his twelve sons and described their personal characteristics.
From these descriptions the tribal emblems of identification emerged. They are
recorded in Genesis 49 and Deuteronomy 33.
The tribes of Israel camped by their
individual tribal banners when they were in the Wilderness under the Leadership
of God and Moses. The Levites (the priests and civil servants of the nation)
camped in the centre, around the Tabernacle structure.
Numbers 2.2 - "Every man of
the children of Israel shall pitch by his own standard, with the ensign of
their father's house."
Joseph became a vizier in Egypt, so his tribe was divided between his two
sons, Ephraim and Manasseh. In total there were 13 tribes.
They grouped under brigade emblems when they moved from camp to camp. The
Brigade of Judah went first, then the Brigades of Reuben, Ephraim and Dan. Some
historians think that the four brigade emblems were the Lion, Man, Ox and Eagle
as depicted in the visions recorded in the first chapter of Ezekiel and the
fourth chapter of Revelation. Both visions were of God's Throne and His Glory
round about.
The tribal emblem for the tribe of
Levi was also the sword.
Jacob treated the personal characteristics of Levi and Simeon as of similar
nature. He said "Simeon and Levi are brethren; instruments of cruelty are
in their habitations ... in their anger they slew a man." (Genesis 49.5-7).
In the book "Symbols of our Celto-Saxon Heritage" by W. H. Bennett,
it reads "Simeon and Levi ... took each man his sword, and came upon the
city boldy and slew all the males. And they slew Hamor and Shechem his son with
the edge of the sword." (Genesis 34.25-26).
The tribe of Levi was chastised and "cleansed" by God before being
allowed to enter the Promised Land. Later, the emblem of the sword was used by
Simeon only, and some think that the Breastplate worn by the Levite priests
became the emblem for the tribe of Levi. The breastplate is described in Exodus
chapters 28 and 39.
(It's worth noting too, that the sword in the Bible is often used in
relationship to God's Word and The Holy Spirit.)
W. H. Bennett explains further in his book that "An interesting fact
regarding Simeon's emblem is that some Jewish authorities show it as a
fortified (towered or turreted) Gate of a castle or walled city. While no such
object is mentioned by either Jacob or Moses in their blessing of the tribes,
nevertheless, the events recorded in Genesis 34, and especially the capture of
the walled city of Shalem by Simeon and Levi as recorded in verse 25, clearly
establish a relationship between a city gate and Simeon and Levi. All cities
and towns had walls in those days, and of necessity this wall would have a
fortified gate. Thus to commemorate their capture of this city, a fortified
(turreted and towered) Gate became an emblem of Simeon and Levi, and later of
Simeon only."
