Shiloh was a city mentioned in the Bible that played a significant role in the history of the Israelites… It was the original site of the Tabernacle…
The Tabernacle contained the Ark of the Covenant… which held the Ten Commandments and other sacred objects… In this blog post, we will explore the history and significance of Shiloh… including its destruction by the Philistines and the meaning of the phrase “until Shiloh comes.”
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The Sceptre Shall Not Depart from Judah Until Shiloh Comes
This is a reference to a prophecy found in the Book of Genesis. In Genesis 49:10, the patriarch Jacob (also known as Israel) says to his son Judah / “The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh comes; and to Him shall be the obedience of the people /.”
The “scepter” here refers to the symbol of royal power and authority… The promise that it will not depart from Judah means that the rule of kings will always remain with the tribe of Judah… The mention of Shiloh is significant — because it refers to the coming of the Messiah, who would be a descendant of Judah and the rightful King of Israel…
In this verse, Jacob is prophesying that the rule of kings will continue in the tribe of Judah until the Messiah comes… Jesus — a descendant of Judah, came to Earth as the “King of Kings” (Revelation 17:14). Shiloh also means peace and of course — Jesus is the Prince of Peace!
Shiloh Was the Site of the Tabernacle
In the book of Joshua… it is written that the Israelites set up the Tabernacle in Shiloh after they conquered the land of Canaan… The Tabernacle was a portable tent that served as the dwelling place of God among the Israelites…
The exact reason why Shiloh was chosen as the site for the Tabernacle is not specified in the Bible… However — it is likely that the Israelites chose Shiloh because it was located in the territory of the tribe of Ephraim… one of the first tribes to settle in the land of Canaan after the Israelites’ conquest…
It is also possible that the Israelites chose Shiloh because it was a central location that would be easily accessible to people from all over the land…
The Whole Congregation of the Children of Israel Assembled at Shiloh
The Whole Congregation of the Children of Israel Assembled at Shiloh refers to an event recorded in the Book of Joshua… in which the Israelites gathered at the city of Shiloh after they had crossed the Jordan River and entered the Promised Land…
The Israelites had been wandering in the wilderness for 40 years — but God had promised them a land of their own… When they arrived at Shiloh — they built an altar and offered sacrifices to God, giving thanks for their safe arrival and the blessings they had received (Joshua 18:1)…
This gathering at Shiloh was significant because it marked the beginning of a new chapter in the history of the Israelites… It was the first time that they had settled in a permanent place and established a center of worship… It was also a time of unity and fellowship — as the people came together to celebrate their arrival in the land that God had promised them…
Joshua Commanded the People to Go and Describe the Land and Come Back to Him at Shiloh
After the Israelites had entered the Promised Land and settled at Shiloh — Joshua, their new leader, sent out scouts to explore the land and report back to him (Joshua 18:8)…
This was a significant event because the land of Canaan was vast and varied, and Joshua wanted to make sure that each tribe received a fair and suitable portion… He, therefore — commanded the people to go out and survey the land, taking note of its features and resources, and to come back to him with their findings…
The scouts did as they were commanded, and when they returned to Shiloh, they gave Joshua a detailed description of the land… This information was valuable to Joshua, as it helped him to make informed decisions about how to divide the land among the tribes…
It was also a sign of the Israelites’ trust in God — who had promised them the land and would guide them in their conquest of it…
Joshua Cast Lots for the People at Shiloh
After the scouts had returned from their survey of the land and reported their findings to Joshua — he gathered the people at Shiloh and cast lots to determine how the land would be divided among the tribes (Joshua 18:10)…
The casting of lots was a common practice in ancient Israel, and it was used to make decisions by letting God determine the outcome… In this case — Joshua used the lots to allocate the various territories to the different tribes… Each tribe received a portion of the land that was suitable for their needs and abilities, as determined by God…
The casting of lots at Shiloh was an important event because it marked the completion of the Israelites’ conquest of the Promised Land… It was also a sign of their trust in God, who had guided them and provided for them throughout their journey… By casting lots — the Israelites were acknowledging that the land was a gift from God and that they were accountable to Him for its use and care.
The Children of Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh Departed from the Israelites at Shiloh
After the land of Canaan was divided among the tribes of Israel, the tribes of Reuben / Gad / and Manasseh decided to settle on the eastern side of the Jordan River — rather than in the land west of the river where the rest of the Israelites were living (Joshua 22:1-9)…
This decision was significant… because it meant that the children of Reuben / Gad / and Manasseh would be living apart from the rest of the Israelites… They built a city called Ataroth and settled there, while the rest of the Israelites remained at Shiloh…
The decision of the tribes of Reuben / Gad / and Manasseh to settle on the east side of the Jordan River was not without controversy… Some of the Israelites were concerned that the tribes would not be able to defend themselves against their enemies, and they accused them of turning their backs on the rest of the Israelites…
However — the tribes of Reuben / Gad/ and Manasseh assured the others that they were still committed to the God of Israel and to their fellow Israelites, and they would come to their aid if they were needed…
Micah’s Graven Image Was Set Up in Shiloh While the House of God Was There
During the time of the judges, a man named Micah set up a graven image in his home in the city of Ephraim (Judges 17:3-4). This angered the tribe of Dan — who decided to move north and establish their own city. They took the graven image with them and set it up in the city of Laish — which they renamed Dan (Judges 18:30)…
The setting up of Micah’s graven image in Shiloh was significant because it represented a turning away from God. The Israelites were forbidden to worship idols, and the setting up of the graven image was a violation of this commandment…
It was also a sign of the spiritual decline of the Israelites during the time of the judges when they were divided and did not have a strong central leadership…
The fact that the house of God was in Shiloh at the time that the graven image was set up is also significant. It highlights the contrast between the worship of the true God and the worship of false idols…
While the Israelites were supposed to be focused on serving and worshiping God – they were instead turning to idols and other forms of false worship. This was a serious problem that would have consequences for the Israelites in the future…
The Virgins of Jabesh-Gilead Were Brought to Shiloh
During a battle between the Israelites and the Ammonites — the city of Jabesh-Gilead was conquered by the Ammonites (Judges 11:29-30). As a result – all the men in the city were killed and the women and children were taken as captives…
The Israelites were outraged by this — and they sent an army to rescue the captives and defeat the Ammonites. They were successful, and they brought the women and children back to the city of Shiloh (Judges 21:1-9)…
The bringing of the virgins of Jabesh-Gilead to Shiloh was significant because it shows the Israelites’ concern for their fellow Israelites and their willingness to defend them…
It also highlights the importance of Shiloh as a center of worship and community for the Israelites. Even in the midst of war and conflict – the Israelites were able to come together at Shiloh and give thanks to God for their victory and for the safe return of the captives…
There Was a Feast of the Lord Yearly in Shiloh
After the Israelites had settled in the Promised Land and the Tabernacle had been built at Shiloh – they were instructed to observe a yearly feast to give thanks to God (Joshua 18:1)…
This feast, known as the Feast of the Lord, was a time of joy and thanksgiving for the Israelites. They would gather at Shiloh — offer sacrifices, and give thanks to God for all the blessings that He had given them…
It was also a time of fellowship and unity… as the people came together to celebrate their relationship with God and with one another…
The fact that the Feast of the Lord was celebrated yearly at Shiloh is significant because it shows the Israelites’ commitment to worshiping and serving God… It also highlights the central role of Shiloh as a place of worship and community for the Israelites…
Even as they settled in their new land and faced challenges – the Israelites continued to gather at Shiloh to give thanks to God and to celebrate His goodness.
Hannah Took Her Son Samuel to Shiloh to Be Trained as a Prophet
Hannah was a devout woman who prayed fervently to God for a son (1 Samuel 1:1-20). When her prayers were answered and she gave birth to a son — she named him Samuel and dedicated him to the Lord (1 Samuel 1:20-28)…
When Samuel was old enough, Hannah took him to Shiloh – where the Tabernacle and the house of God were located. There, she left him in the care of the high priest Eli, who trained him to serve in the Tabernacle and to hear the voice of the Lord (1 Samuel 2:11-21)…
The fact that Hannah took her son Samuel to Shiloh to be trained as a prophet is significant because — it shows her devotion to God and her commitment to raising her son in the ways of the Lord…
It also highlights the importance of Shiloh as a center of worship and spiritual training for the Israelites. Even in a time of spiritual decline and moral decay… there were still people like Hannah who were dedicated to serving God and passing on their faith to the next generation…
Even as they settled in their new land and faced challenges – the Israelites continued to gather at Shiloh to give thanks to God and to celebrate His goodness…
The Ark of the Covenant Was Stolen from Shiloh by the Philistines
During a battle between the Israelites and the Philistines — the Ark was captured by the Philistines and taken to their city of Ashdod (1 Samuel 4:11). This was a great tragedy for the Israelites – who had lost not only their sacred Ark but also their symbol of God’s presence with them…
The fact that the Ark of the Covenant was stolen from Shiloh by the Philistines is significant because it shows the weakness of the Israelites during the time of the judges…
They were divided and without strong leadership — and they were unable to defend themselves against their enemies…
It also highlights the importance of the Ark and its role as a symbol of God’s presence with His people. The loss of the Ark was a great blow to the Israelites – and it would take many years for them to recover from it…
Eli, a Prophet and Judge of Israel Lived in Shiloh with His Sons
Eli was a prophet and judge in Israel who lived in the city of Shiloh (1 Samuel 1:3). He served in the Tabernacle and provided guidance and counsel to the people…
Eli had two sons, Hophni and Phinehas — who were wicked and corrupt. They brought shame upon their father and the nation – and they were eventually killed in battle (1 Samuel 4:11-18)…
After their deaths – Eli fell backward and died… and the Ark of the Covenant was captured by the Philistines (1 Samuel 4:19-22)…
The fact that Eli lived in Shiloh with his sons is significant because… it shows the central role of Shiloh as a center of worship and community for the Israelites. It also highlights the importance of strong leadership and the consequences of moral decay and corruption…
Despite Eli’s good intentions — the wickedness of his sons brought about his downfall and the downfall of the nation…
You may also be interested in… Biblical Events That Happened at Jericho
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