במדבר, פרק ב׳, פסוק י״ח

The arrangement of the Israelites in the desert reflects a deep spiritual and historical hierarchy. The entire western flank of the formation is dedicated to the descendants of Rachel—Ephraim, Manasseh, and Benjamin. These three tribes camp together under a single flag, led by the tribe of Ephraim [חזקוני, שפתי כהן]. The camp is positioned facing west [ביאור שטיינזלץ], a direction that holds broad symbolic meaning. Tradition views the west as the place where the Divine Presence rests, and the western wind is known to bring healing, calm, and stability to the world [שפתי כהן].

This connection to healing is deeply woven into the camp's location, which corresponds to the heavenly camp of the angel Raphael, the angel of healing. The need for this spiritual medicine is primarily directed at the tribe of Ephraim itself. In the future, King Jeroboam will emerge from this tribe, bringing sin upon himself and causing the rest of the nation to sin. The physical gathering of the tribes is thus mirrored in the spiritual realm; they are referred to collectively as a camp to hint at this heavenly camp of Raphael, who rests above them and accompanies them from on high [שפתי כהן].

Although Manasseh was Joseph's firstborn and naturally suited to lead, the flag and the camp are named after Ephraim. The reason for this shift lies in the meaning of the brothers' names. Manasseh's name expresses forgetting, as it represents how God made Joseph forget his hardship. Ephraim's name, however, symbolizes growth and fruitfulness emerging directly from difficulty and suffering, reflecting how God made him fruitful in the land of his affliction. Elevating Ephraim to lead the camp serves as a powerful message, showing that the Divine Presence remains with the people of Israel even throughout the hardships of exile [שפתי כהן].