Shiloh

SHI'LOH (place of rest), a city north of Bethel, south of Lebonah, on the east of the road from Bethel to Shechem. Jud 21:19. It is now called Seilun, and is 17 miles north of Jerusalem and very nearly midway between Bethel and Shechem, being about 9 or 10 miles from each. Scripture History. - Joshua selected Shiloh as the site of the tabernacle, and there made the allotments of the Promised Land. Josh 18:1, Josh 18:8-10. During the period of the Judges, for three hundred years, the tabernacle remained here, and in its honor a festival was annually celebrated, on which occasion the daughters of Shiloh danced, and thus gave an opportunity for the Benjamites to carry off two hundred of them as wives. Jud 21:19-23. Shiloh was the residence of Eli and of Samuel, 1 Sam 3-4, and thither tidings were brought to the old man of the capture of the ark by the Philistines. The ark was never brought back to Shiloh, and the tabernacle was removed to Nob and thence to Jerusalem. 2 Chr 1:3-4. The prophet Ahijah lived there. 1 Kgs 14:1-17. Shiloh seems to have been desolate in Jeremiah's day. Jer 7:12, 2 Kgs 22:14; Gen 26:6, Num 26:9. In the time of Jerome the place was a ruin. In the Middle Ages it was erroneously supposed to have lain near Neby Samwil. Present Appearance. - It has been identified without doubt with Seilun, a ruined village on a low hill, showing traces of ancient building-material and early foundations. The most interesting feature is a sort of level open court, 412 feet long and 77 feet wide, partly hewn out of the rock, "which might have been the actual spot where the ark rested, for its custodians would naturally select a place sheltered from the bleak winds that prevail in these highlands." (See Recovery of Jerusalem, p. 364.) In a little valley about half a mile from the ruins are Seilun (ancient Shiloh). the spring and well of Shiloh, and this must have been the spot where the "daughters of Shiloh" were seized. In the neighborhood of this spring are many rock-hewn tombs, in which, according to Jewish tradition, were laid the bodies of Eli and his sons. From its central, and at the same time secluded, position, Shiloh was well adapted to be the resting-place of the ark and the principal sanctuary of the Jewish nation.