Lexical Definition

‎שִׁילֹה‎ Shîylôh (shee-lo') Shiloh ^N:N--L
or שִׁלֹה Shilôh (shee-lo'); or שִׁילוֹ Shîylôw (shee-lo'); or שִׁלוֹ Shilôw (shee-lo'); from the same as ‎שִׁילֹה‎

Shiloh.

• § Shiloh = "place of rest"
• Shiloh, a place in Palestine

1) a city in Ephraim and temporary home of the Ark of the Covenant and the Tabernacle, the place where Samuel grew up

Extended Information

• Shiloh = "place of rest"
• Also named: shi.lo.ni (‎ש‎ִׁ‎יל‎ֹ‎נ‎ִ‎י‎ "Shilonite" שִׁילוֹנִי)

Brown-Driver-Briggs

‎שִׁלוֺ‎, ‎שִׁולוֺ‎, ‎שִׁלֹה‎ proper name, of a location (originally ‎שִׁלוֺן‎, see adjective, of a people (otherwise Ba^{NB § 224 b}), which also shews that √ ‎שׁול‎, ‎שׁיל‎, was posited when text of Kings was fixed, compare Dr^{2Sam 15:12}); — ‎שִׁלוֺ‎ Judg 21:19; 1Sam 1:24; 1Sam 3:21; 1Sam 14:3; Jer 7:14 (on destruction of Shiloh see We^{2Sam 8:17}), Jer 26:9; Jer 41:5, ‎׳‎‎מִשְׁכַּן שׁ‎ Ps 78:60 ‎שִׁילוֺ‎ Judg 21:21 (twice in verse); Jer 7:12 ‎שִׁלֹה‎ Josh 18:1; Josh 18:8; Josh 18:9; Josh 18:10; Josh 19:51; Josh 21:2; Josh 22:9; Josh 22:12 (all P or R), Judg 18:31; Judg 21:12; 1Sam 1:3; 1Sam 1:9; 1Sam 2:14; 1Sam 3:21; 1Sam 4:3; 1Sam 4:4; 1Sam 4:12; 1Kgs 2:27; 1Kgs 14:2; 1Kgs 14:4; Jer 26:6 (variant reading ‎שִׁלוֺ‎ in all these [21 t.] given by Gi as Qr). — Σηλωμ, Σηλω(ν). — Modern Seilûn, approximately 91/2 miles north-northeast of Bethel: (Beitîn), Buhl^{G 178} Dr^{Hast. DB SHlLOH}.

Brown-Driver-Briggs References

Profile

Shiloh • Israelite sanctuary and assembly point during the judges' period

Shiloh was an important Israelite sanctuary and assembly point during the period of the judges, where the tabernacle was set up and the land was allotted to the tribes (Josh. 18:1, 8-10; 19:51; 21:2; 22:9, 12; Judg. 18:31; 21:12, 19, 21; 1 Sam. 1:3, 9, 24; 2:14; 3:21; 4:3, 4, 12; 14:3; 1 Ki. 2:27; 14:2, 4; Ps. 78:60; Jer. 7:12, 14; 26:6, 9; 41:5).

• A location first mentioned at Jos.18.1;
• referred to as Shiloh שִׁילֹה, or Shilonite שִׁילוֹנִי.
  

Shiloh was an important religious center and assembly point for the Israelites during the period of the judges. After the conquest of Canaan, the tabernacle was set up at Shiloh, and it served as the central place of worship for the nation (Josh. 18:1; 19:51). It was at Shiloh that the land was allotted to the tribes of Israel (Josh. 18:8-10; 21:2) and where the Reubenites, Gadites, and half-tribe of Manasseh were dismissed to their territories east of the Jordan (Josh. 22:9, 12).

During the time of the judges, Shiloh continued to be a significant religious site. The tabernacle remained at Shiloh throughout this period (Judg. 18:31), and annual festivals were held there (Judg. 21:19, 21). It was at Shiloh that Hannah prayed for a son and dedicated Samuel to the Lord's service (1 Sam. 1:3, 9, 24). The priest Eli and his sons ministered at the tabernacle in Shiloh (1 Sam. 2:14; 3:21; 4:3, 4, 12), and the Ark of the Covenant was kept there until it was captured by the Philistines (1 Sam. 4:3, 4).

Shiloh's importance declined after the Ark was taken and the tabernacle was destroyed (Ps. 78:60; Jer. 7:12, 14; 26:6, 9). The prophet Ahijah, who prophesied the division of the kingdom, was from Shiloh (1 Ki. 11:29; 14:2, 4). The town was eventually destroyed, and its ruins served as a warning against disobedience to God (Jer. 7:12, 14; 26:6, 9).

Shiloh's significance in the biblical narrative lies in its role as a religious and political center during the formative years of Israel's history. Its central location in the hill country of Ephraim made it a convenient meeting place for the tribes and a symbol of their unity under the worship of the Lord.

All entries for Shiloh: שִׁילֹה ☩ שִׁילוֹנִי