Lastly, when it is said, [SN: Num. 2.] Every man of the Children of _Israel_ shall pitch by his own standard with the Ensign of their fathers house; upon enquiry what these standards and ensigns were there is no small incertainty; and men conform not unto the Prophesie of _Jacob_. Christian expositors are fain herein to rely upon the _Rabbins_, who notwithstanding are various in their traditions, and confirm not these common descriptions. For as for inferiour ensigns, either of particular bands or houses, they determine nothing at all; and of the four principal or Legionary standards, that is, of _Judah_, _Reuben_, _Ephraim_, and _Dan_ (under every one whereof marched three Tribes) they explain them very variously. _Jonathan_ who compiled the Thargum conceives the colours of these banners to answer the precious stones in the breast-plate, and upon which the names of the Tribes were engraven. [SN: _The like also_ P. Fagius _upon the Thargum or_ Chaldie _Paraphrase of_ Onkelus. Num. 1.] So the standard for the Camp of _Judah_ was of three colours, according unto the stones, Chalcedony, Saphir and Sardonix; and therein were expressed the names of the three Tribes, [SN: Num. 10.] _Judah_, _Isachar_, and _Zabulon_, and in the middest thereof was written, Rise up Lord, and let thy enemies be scattered, and let them that hate thee flee before thee; in it was also the pourtrait of a Lion. The standard of _Reuben_ was also of three colours, Sardine, Topaz, and Amethyst; therein were expressed the names of _Reuben_, _Simeon_, and _Gad_, in the middest was written, [SN: Deut. 6.] Hear, O _Israel_, The Lord our God, the Lord is one: Therein was also the pourtraiture of a Hart. But _Abenezra_ and others, beside the colours of the field, do set down other charges, in _Reubens_ the form of a man or mandrake, in that of _Judah_ a Lion, in _Ephraims_ an Ox, in _Dan's_ the figure of an Eagle. And thus indeed the four figures in the banners of the principal squadrons of _Israel_ are answerable unto the Cherubins in the vision of _Ezekiel_[SN: Ezek. 1.]; every one carrying the form of all these. As for the likeness of their faces, they four had the likeness of the face of a Man, and the face of a Lion on the right side, and they four had the face of an Ox on the left side, they four had also the face of an Eagle. [SN: _The common Pictures of the 4 Evangelists explicated._] And conformable hereunto the pictures of the Evangelists (whose Gospels are the Christian banners) are set forth with the addition of a man or Angel, an Ox, a Lion, and a Eagle. And these symbolically represent the office of Angels, and Ministers of Gods Will; in whom is required understanding as in a man, courage and vivacity as in the Lion, service and ministerial officiousness, as in the Ox, expedition or celerity of execution, as in the Eagle.