The Midrash says that at the time of the giving of the Torah the Israelites peered at the Angels and saw that they had organized camps with different banners. The Israelites were jealous of the Angels' banners and hoped one day to be given the same.
When G-D decided how to organize the camps , they were ordered to have the same banners they saw on high.
every time i review this Midrash i wonder what is so special about the banners that the Israelites coveted to have those colors. The answer always given is that the Israelites saw the wondrous service and greatness of the Angels. What they desired was the level that the Angels had achieved.
This too, is unsatisfying, for how can we compare ourselves to the Angels?
It is my belief that they saw the universal brotherhood exhibited by the Angels and the pride that they had with being united under one flag for a single cause. This unity of person and purpose is what we coveted , Upon being counted , we had the tools necessary to copy and even outdo the Angels in our unity below. For through sacrifice for the group, the individual rises even above the
Angels!
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