Numbers 2:2

Each tribe has a (?) standard; and each family has an ensign, or more strictly a sign, which may imply any kind of mark, such as a pole or spear or other object. Doughty (Arabia Deserta, i. 221) describes a Bedawin chief as striking his lance into the ground as a sign round which his people encamped. The meaning of the word deghel, rendered -standard," is doubtful. It perhaps denotes something looked ator conspicuous(cf. Song of Solomon 5:10, R.V. -chiefest"); and an Assyr. root formed of the same consonants has that meaning. And hence might be derived -banner" (Song of Solomon 2:4)1 [Note: The verb in Psalms 20:6 [Eng. 5] cannot be safely used as evidence; many think that the passage is corrupt.]. In the present passage some would render it -company" or -battalion," and so in Numbers 2:3; Numbers 2:10; Numbers 2:18; Numbers 2:25. This would certainly be more suitable in Numbers 2:3, where the literal rendering of the Heb. is -those that pitch … shall be the deghelof the camp of Judah," and it is supported by the LXX. (τάγμα), Syriac, and Targum. If this is right, deghelis used with a secondary meaning. Cf. the words maṭṭehand shçbheṭ, each of which can denote both a -staff" and a -tribe." Cf. also the Lat. vexillum, a -standard" (Tac. Hist.i. 32) and a -company" belonging to a vexillum(id.i. 70).