STERLING, VIRGINIA
I. INTRODUCTION
The following explanation is based on a lecture given to us by our temple president last November prior to performing baptisms for the dead..
In Numbers chapter 1, Moses and Aaron perform a census of the Children of Israel. In chapter 2, Moses and Aaron
receive instructions from the Lord about how the Children of Israel are to be arrayed while traveling in the wilderness.
The 12 Tribes were divided into four groups of three tribes each. These four groups placed at the four points of
the compass, North, South, East, and West. The four groups were called "camps." Within each camp, one
of the three tribes was assigned to be the lead tribe--or head of the camp. The lead tribe was positioned between
the two other tribes in their camp. Each camp was called by the name of the lead tribe as follows:
|
Compass Heading |
Camp Name |
Banner Symbol* |
Tribes |
|---|---|---|---|
|
North |
Dan |
Eagle |
Asher, Dan, Naphtali |
|
South |
Rueben |
Man |
Gad, Rueben, Simeon |
|
East |
Judah |
Lion |
Issachar, Judah, Zebulon |
|
West |
Ephraim |
Ox |
Benjamin, Ephraim, Manassah |
The Tribe of Levi was not counted among the 12 and was placed in center of the configuration (along with the Tabernacle), so that the other tribes had equal access to the priestly functions performed by the Tribe of Levi.
In 2 Chronicles 4:2-6 a washing font or "sea of glass" in Solomon's Temple is described. Priests washed
themselves in this font before performing sacrifices. Verse four explains that the font sat upon the figures of
12 oxen arrayed in four groups of three at the four compass points. It has been traditionally believed among many
Christian sects that these 12 figures represent the 12 Tribes of Israel -- though I cannot find an authoritative
source (scriptural or prophetic) that makes the connection explicit. Nevertheless, it is easy to see the symbolism.
The Levites washed themselves in the font, which was surrounded by the 12 ox figures, just like the the Tribe
of Levi was surrounded by the 12 other Tribes.
In modern-day fonts in modern-day temples, we perform priestly functions (baptisms for the dead) surrounded by the 12 ox figures that represent the 12 Tribes. We can also give names to each of the Oxen. The west-center ox is Ephraim; the east-center ox is Judah; the north-center ox is Dan; and the south-center ox is Reuben, etc.