The counting of Joseph's descendants highlights a unique division within the Israelite camp. Instead of remaining a single tribe, his lineage is split into two distinct groups, reflecting a complex internal hierarchy and shifting dynamics of leadership.
Despite his prominence, Joseph did not receive a tribal flag in his own name. Because of his royal status in Egypt, he did not physically carry his father Jacob's bed during the burial procession. Consequently, he was not directly included in the arrangement of the camp's flags; instead, the flag was established in the name of his sons [פענח רזא, קיצור בעל הטורים]. The descendants of Rachel—Ephraim, Manasseh, and Benjamin—were united under this independent banner, with Ephraim stepping into the leadership role in place of his father. Each tribe carried specific symbols handed down by Jacob, with Ephraim's banner displaying the horns of a wild ox and Manasseh's featuring a bull [פענח רזא].
Within this family structure, Ephraim takes precedence over his older brother Manasseh. This priority stems from a few key factors: Ephraim was designated to lead their shared flag, he received the primary blessing of the firstborn from Jacob, and at the time of the initial census, his tribe simply had a larger number of men eligible for military service [רמב״ן, הטור הארוך].
However, the ranking between the two brothers is not permanent and shifts throughout different events during the journey in the desert. During the second census in the plains of Moab and in the roster of tribal leaders entering the land, Manasseh is listed before Ephraim. By that time, Manasseh's population had grown significantly, and they were the first to receive their territorial inheritance.
The dynamic between the brothers appears even more complex during the sending of the spies. While Ephraim is listed first, Joseph's name is specifically attached to Manasseh. One approach suggests a thematic link: just as Joseph once brought a negative report about his brothers, his name is connected to the spy from Manasseh who spread a negative report about the land. A different perspective views this as an effort to distribute honor equally between the brothers. Since Ephraim had already secured the prestige of tribal leadership, associating Joseph's name with Manasseh served to balance their standing [רמב״ן, הטור הארוך].
Stepping back to view the entire camp's travel formation, the arrangement was highly strategic. The most powerful tribes were positioned at the outer edges to provide security. The tribe of Judah, likened to a lion, led the march at the very front, while the tribe of Dan served as the rear guard to protect the camp from behind [הטור הארוך].