Banners served as battle flags in ancient wars. Attached to poles, they were used to signal troop movements or to serve as rallying points. Banners could be actual flags or they could be carved figures, often depicting a bird or animal. Each of the Israelite tribes may have had a banner to help organize the mass exodus out of Sinai. In Psalm 60:4, the banner is a symbol of God’s protection over those who trust him.