Shiloh

Generally understood as denoting the Messiah, “the peaceful one,” as the word signifies (Gen. 49:10). The Vulgate Version translates the word, “he who is to be sent,” in allusion to the Messiah; the Revised Version, margin, “till he come to Shiloh;” and the LXX., “until that which is his shall come to Shiloh.” It is most simple and natural to render the expression, as in the Authorized Version, “till Shiloh come,” interpreting it as a proper name (comp. Isa. 9:6). Shiloh, a place of rest, a city of Ephraim, “on the north side of Bethel,” from which it is distant 10 miles (Judg. 21:19); the modern Seilun (the Arabic for Shiloh), a “mass of shapeless ruins.” Here the tabernacle was set up after the Conquest (Josh. 18:1-10), where it remained during all the period of the judges till the ark fell into the hands of the Philistines. “No spot in Central Palestine could be more secluded than this early sanctuary, nothing more featureless than the landscape around; so featureless, indeed, the landscape and so secluded the spot that from the time of St. Jerome till its re-discovery by Dr. Robinson in 1838 the very site was forgotten and unknown.” It is referred to by Jeremiah (7:12, 14; 26:4-9) five hundred years after its destruction.

(place of rest), a city of Ephraim. In (Judges 21:19) it is said that Shiloh is “on the north side of Bethel, on the east side of the highway that goeth up from Bethel to Shechem and on the south of Lebonah.” In agreement with this the traveller of our own city, going north from Jerusalem, lodges the first night at Beitin, the ancient Bethel; the next day, at the distance of a few hours, turns aside to the right, in order to visit Seilun, the Arabic for Shiloh; and then passing through the narrow wady which brings him to the main road, leaves el-Lebban, the Lebonah of Scripture, on the left, as he pursues “the highway” to Nublus, the ancient Shechem. [Shechem] Shiloh was one of the earliest and most sacred of the Hebrew sanctuaries. The ark of the covenant, which had been kept at Gilgal during the progress of the conquest, (Joshua 17:1) seq., was removed thence on the subjugation of the country, and kept at Shiloh from the last days of Joshua to the time of Samuel. (Joshua 18:10; Judges 18:31; 1 Samuel 4:3) It was here the Hebrew conqueror divided among the tribes the portion of the west Jordan region which had not been already allotted. (Joshua 18:10; 19:51) In this distribution, or an earlier one, Shiloh fell within the limits of Ephraim. (Joshua 16:5) The ungodly conduct of the sons of Eli occasioned the loss of the ark of the covenant, which had been carried into battle against the Philistines, and Shiloh from that time sank into insignificance. It stands forth in the Jewish history as a striking example of the divine indignation. (Jeremiah 7:12) In the Authorized Version of the Bible Shiloh is once used as the name of a person, in a very difficult passage, in (Genesis 49:10) “The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be.” Supposing that the translation is correct, the meaning of the word is peaceable or pacific, and the allusion is either to Solomon, whose name has a similar signification, or to the expected Messiah, who in (Isaiah 9:6) is expressly called the Prince of Peace. [Messiah] Other interpretations, however, of the passage are given, one of which makes it refer to the city of this name. [See the following article] It might be translated “The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, till he shall go to Shiloh.” In this case the allusion would be to the primacy of Judah in war, (Judges 1:1,2; 20:18; Numbers 2:3; 10:14) which was to continue until the promised land was conquered and the ark of the covenant was solemnly deposited at 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.

SHI'LOH. The word "Shiloh," as used in Gen 49:10, has given rise to much discussion. Many of the best scholars consider it as referring to the town. But it is better to adopt the traditional view, and interpret "Shiloh" of the Messiah. The word in this connection, according to the majority, means, "He whose right it is." Others translate "Peace." Cf. Isa 9:6. Still others, "The sceptre shall not depart from Judah till He comes to whom it belongs."

sent

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.

Part of speech: noun (n.)

A word used by Jacob on his deathbed, and interpreted variously, as "the Messiah," or as the city "Shiloh," or as "Rest."