Tafsiran Bilangan 2:3: Rashi, Kli Yakar, Or HaChaim & Siftei Chakhamim

קדמה means IN FRONT, which is expressed by קדם; and which side is it? The east side (מזרחה), and accordingly the west is termed אחור, the back side of the world (cf. Rashi on Exodus 27:13 and Note thereon).

And those encamping on the east side, the banner of the camp of Judah. The reason for arranging the banners in this manner has already been discussed by earlier commentators, each according to his understanding. What seems most reasonable to me is to say that they are arranged according to the four levels that encompass all human perfection, which are: the acquisition of wisdom, followed by the acquisition of good character traits, followed by the acquisition of strength, and after all of these, the acquisition of wealth. This is how Rambam ordered them, and our Sages of blessed memory said (Nedarim 38) that the Divine Presence rests only upon one who is wise, wealthy, strong, and humble, for humility is the foremost of all virtues. Therefore, these banners, which were arranged for the purpose of having the Divine Presence dwell among them, were ordered in this manner, each according to his level of excellence, to tell you that these tribes were worthy of having the Divine Presence rest upon them because all four of these virtues were found among them.

והחנים קדמה מזרחה, "And the ones encamped in the east toward the sunrising, etc." The reason this verse commences with the conjunctive letter ו is that it follows the command to establish the camp around the Tabernacle and only proceeds to give additional details.