Flag:

By: Cyrus Adler , Judah David Eisenstein

A standard or banner having a certain color, emblem, and sometimes an inscription, and carried before a marching army to distinguish its nationality. Flags are of ancient origin. According to the Bible, each of the twelve tribes of the Israelites had its special banner.

The Midrash (Num. R. ii.) on the passage "Every man of the children of Israel shall pitch by his own standard, with the ensign of their father's house" (Num. ii. 2), explains that the emblems and colors corresponded to the twelve precious stones set in the breastplate worn by the high priest, as follows:

Tribe.		Representative Stone. ^*	Color of Banner.	Emblem.
Reuben		Sardius	Red	Mandrake.
Simeon		Topaz	Green	City of Schechem.
Levi		Carbuncle	Tricolor of white, black, and red.	Urim and Thummim.
Judah		Emerald	Sky-blue	Lion.
Issachar		Sapphire	Black	Sun and moon.
Zebulun		Diamond	White	Ship.
Dan		Ligure	Blue	Snake.
Gad		Agate	Gray	Camp.
Naphtali		Amethyst	Wine-color	Hind.
Asher		Beryl	Pearl-color	Female figure and olive-tree.
Joseph	Ephraim	Onyx	Jet-black	Egypt	Bullock.
Joseph	Manasseh	"	"	Egypt	Unicorn.
Benjamin		Jasper	The above colors combined	Wolf.

The Targum Yerushalmi says that the flag of Judah bore, over a roaring lion, the inscription "Rise up, Lord, and let thine enemies be scattered; and let them that hate thee flee before thee" (Num. x. 35). A legend ascribes the origin of the name "Maccabee" to the phrase (abbreviated" , Who is like thee among the mighties, O Lord"), written on the banner of the Hasmoneans.

In the synagogue at the Festival of the Rejoicing of the Law it is customary for children to carry in the procession together with the holy Scrolls flags of various designs.

The Zionists have adopted a flag made up of a white ground with a blue horizontal stripe on each side, and the shield of David in the center in blue.

A. J. D. E.