The Midrash (Bamidbar Rabbah 2:9, Pirkei R. Eliezer Ch. 3) identifies the four main directions as the sources of certain forces of nature:
The Mishkan was a microcosm. The Leviim and the Tribes of Benei Yisrael were stationed around it according to a Divine arrangement by which each group, through its particular spiritual merits, combatted the harmful agents emanating from that direction. They thus protected the entire world. The Kohanim and Leviim were stationed in all four directions around the Mishkan as its honor guards. They also maintained a constant watch so that no non-Kohen would enter to perform an act of Service forbidden to him. HaShem gave Moshe detailed instructions as to where the Leviim families were to camp:
Only Moshe and Aharon with his sons camped directly next to the Mishkan; the other Leviim families - Gershon, Kehat, and Merari - rested at a distance of one thousand amos from the Mishkan.
The Mishkan was encircled by a third camp, the Machaneh Yisrael (Camp of Benei Yisrael) that contained all Twelve Tribes, three of which camped in each direction. The Camp of Benei Yisrael was enclosed by the Clouds of Glory. The erev rav (mixed multitude) remained outside the Clouds at all times. The four leading degalim divisions of Tribes were Yehudah, Efrayim, Reuven and Dan and correspond to the four angelic divisions (Bamidbar Rabbah 2:9)
Also, the symbols embroidered upon the four leading banners corresponded to the four creatures that surround the Kisei HaKavod (Yechezk'el 1:10)
Encampment of Benei Yisrael Reuven || Shimon || Levi || Yehudah || Yissachar || Zevulun || Dan || Gad || Naftali || Asher || Yosef || Benyamin
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Degalim Banners (Tribal Flags of Benei Yisrael)
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