רְאוּבֵן֙ בְּכֹ֣רִי

A. Leib Scheinbaum: In the front, to the east, under the degel of Yehudah, were the tribes of Yehudah, Yissachar and Zevullun. Yaakov Avinu visualized Yehudah as the most prominent tribe, symbolized by his shevet, scepter, and mechokek, leadership in Torah law. Yissachar was the tribe devoted to agriculture, who consequently had leisure time for study. Zevullun was devoted to commerce, but also seems to be a leader in cultivating literature. Hence, in the leading tribes, the areas in which the material and spiritual welfare of the nation were to depend, were united. The scepter and the law, agriculture and science, commerce and literature.