Glimpses of Israel - Shiloh,the City of Beginnings
Forty kilometres (25 miles) north of Jerusalem lies the ancient city of Shiloh, the place where the Tabernacle resided for more than three centuries. Situated in the territory allocated to the tribe of Ephraim, the city of Shiloh today is a popular archaeological site.
It was at Shiloh that Joshua gathered the nation, and set up the Tabernacle. "Now the whole congregation of the children of Israel assembled together at Shiloh, and set up the Tabernacle of Meeting there." (Joshua 18:1)
Joshua sent out surveyors from Shiloh, to complete the conquest of the Land. "Go, walk through the land, survey it, and come back to me, that I may cast lost for you here before the LORD in Shiloh." (Joshua 18:8)
The tribes of Israel who were to take possession of their inheritance, on the west of the Jordan (West Bank), received their allocation at Shiloh. "Now Joshua cast lots for them in Shiloh before the LORD, and there Joshua divided the land to the children of Israel according to their divisions." (Joshua 18:10)
The prophet Samuel was dedicated, as a young child, to serve the Lord at Shiloh, (see 1 Samuel 1:24); and it was here that the Lord appeared to him. "Then the LORD appeared again in Shiloh. For the LORD revealed Himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the word of the LORD." (1 Samuel 3:24)
Following a shocking defeat, the army of Israel brought the Ark of the Covenant, from the Tabernacle at Shiloh, to their encampment at Ebenezer–Israel had lost four thousand men in the first day's fighting– "'Why has the LORD defeated us today before the Philistines? Let us bring the Ark of the Covenant of the LORD from Shiloh to us, that when it comes among us it may save us from the hand of our enemies.'" (1 Samuel 4:3)
With a growing vibrant Jewish community, Shiloh today, is providing an important link to the days of the Patriarchs.