Of the Scutcheons of the Tribes of Israel.
We will not pass over the Scutcheons of the Tribes of _Israel_, as they
are usually described in the Maps of _Canaan_ and several other pieces;
generally conceived to be the proper coats, and distinctive badges of
their several Tribes. So _Reuben_ is conceived to bear three Bars wave,
_Judah_ a Lyon Rampant, _Dan_ a Serpent nowed, _Simeon_ a sword inpale
the point erected, etc. The ground whereof is the last Benediction of
_Jacob_[SN: Gen. 49.], wherein he respectively draweth comparisons from
things here represented.
Now herein although we allow a considerable measure of truth, yet
whether as they are usually described, these were the proper
cognizances, and coat-arms of the Tribes; whether in this manner
applyed, and upon the grounds presumed, material doubts remain.
For first, They are not strictly made out, from the Prophetical blessing
of _Jacob_; for _Simeon_ and _Levi_ have distinct coats, that is, a
Sword, and the two Tables, yet are they by _Jacob_ included in one
Prophesie, _Simeon_ and _Levi_ are brethren, Instruments of cruelties
are in their habitations. So _Joseph_ beareth an Ox, whereof
notwithstanding there is no mention in this Prophesie; for therein it is
said _Joseph_ is a fruitful bough, even a fruitful bough by a well; by
which repitition are intimated the two Tribes descending from him,
_Ephraim_ and _Manasses_; whereof notwithstanding _Ephraim_ only beareth
an Ox: True it is, that many years after in the benediction of _Moses_,
it is said of _Joseph_[SN: Deut. 33.], His glory is like the firstlings
of his Bullock: and so we may concede, what _Vossius_ learnedly
declareth, that the _Ægyptians_ represented _Joseph_, in the Symbole of
an Ox; for thereby was best implied the dream of _Pharoah_, which he
interpreted, the benefit by Agriculture, and provident provision of corn
which he performed; and therefore did _Serapis_ bear a bushel upon his
head.
Again, If we take these two benedictions together, the resemblances are
not appropriate, and _Moses_ therein conforms not unto _Jacob_: for that
which in the Prophesie of _Jacob_ is appropriated unto one, is in the
blessing of _Moses_ made common unto others. So whereas _Judah_ is
compared unto a Lion by _Jacob_, _Judah_ is a Lions whelp, the same is
applied unto _Dan_ by _Moses_, _Dan_ is a Lions whelp, he shall leap
from _Bashan_, and also unto _Gad_; he dwelleth as a Lion.
Thirdly, If a lion were the proper coat of _Judah_, yet were it not
probably a Lion Rampant, as it is commonly described, but rather
couchant or dormant, as some _Heralds_ and _Rabbins_ do determine;
according to the letter of the Text, _Recumbens dormisti ut Leo_, He
couched as a Lion, and as a young Lion, who shall rouse him?
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.
From hence therefore we may observe that these descriptions, the most
authentick of any, are neither agreeable unto one another, nor unto the
Scutcheons in question. For though they agree in _Ephraim_ and _Judah_,
that is, the Ox and the Lion, yet do they differ in those of _Dan_, and
_Reuben_, as far as an Eagle is different from a Serpent, and the figure
of a Man, Hart, or Mandrake, from three Bars wave. [SN: _The Antiquity
of bearing Scutcheons._] Wherein notwithstanding we rather declare the
incertainty of Arms in this particular, than any way question their
antiquity; for hereof more ancient examples there are, than the
Scutcheons of the Tribes, if _Osyris_, _Mizraim_ or _Jupiter_ the Just,
were the Son of _Cham_; for of his two Sons, as _Diodorus_ delivereth,
the one for his Device gave a Dog, the other a Wolf. And, beside the
shield of _Achilles_, and many ancient _Greeks_: if we receive the
conjecture of _Vossius_, that the Crow upon _Corvinus_ his head, was but
the figure of that Animal upon his helmet, it is an example of Antiquity
among the _Romans_.
But more widely must we walk, if we follow the doctrine of the
_Cabalists_[SN: _Ricius_[4] de cœlesti Agricultura, lib. 4.], who in
each of the four banners inscribe a letter of the Tetragrammaton, or
quadriliteral name of God: and mysterizing their ensigns, do make the
particular ones of the twelve Tribes, accommodable unto the twelve signs
in the Zodiack, and twelve moneths in the year: but the Tetrarchical or
general banners, of _Judah_, _Reuben_, _Ephraim_, and _Dan_, unto the
signs of Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricornus: that is, the four
cardinal parts of the Zodiack, and seasons of the year.
[4] _Recius_, 1650, 1658, 1669, 1672, 1686.