Shiloh in Fausset's Bible Dictionary
From shaalah "to rest." The place at which Israel attained
its state of rest, and where the Lord rested among them
(Psalm 132:14). Judges (Judges 21:19) describes its position
as "on the N. side of Bethel (Beitin), on the E. side of the
highway that goeth up from Bethel to Shechem (Nablus), and
on the S. of Lebonah." Now Seilun. The ark, which had been
at Gilgal during the conquest of Canaan, was removed on the
completion of the conquest to Shiloh where it remained from
Joshua's closing days to Samuel's (Joshua 18:1-10; Judges
18:31; 1 Samuel 4:3). Here Joshua divided by lot the part of
the western Jordan land not yet allotted (Joshua 19:51).
Shiloh fell within Ephraim (Joshua 16:5-6). The animal feast
of Jehovah when the daughters of Shiloh went forth in dances
gave Benjamin, when threatened with extinction, the
opportunity of carrying off wives (Judges 21:19-23). At a
distance of 15 minutes' walk is a fountain reached through a
narrow dale; it flows first into a well, thence into a
reservoir, from which herds and flocks are watered.
Here the daughters of Shiloh would resort, the
spectators could see their dances from the amphitheater of
surrounding hills. Terraces are traceable at the sides of
the rocky hills, once covered with verdure and
productiveness. Though the scenery is not striking the
seclusion was favorable to worship and religious study. In
the rockhewn sepulchres may have been laid the remains of
some of Eli's house. Here Eli judged Israel and died of
grief at the capture of the ark by the Philistines. Here
Hannah prayed and Samuel was reared in the tabernacle and
called to the prophetic office (1 Samuel 1; 2; 3). The sin
of Hophni and Phinehas caused the loss of the ark and God's
forsaking of His tabernacle at Shiloh (called in spiritual
sense "the house of God," though not of stone: Judges 18:31;
2 Samuel 7:6; 1 Kings 3:2), so that this became a warning
beacon of God's wrath against those who sin in the face of
high spiritual privileges (Jeremiah 7:12; Psalm 78:60-61).
Ahijah the prophet was here consulted by the
messengers of Jeroboam's wife (1 Kings 11:29; 1 Kings 12:15;
1 Kings 14:1-2). From Shiloh came the half pagan men, with
offerings for the Lord's house, who had cut themselves, and
whom Ishmael slew (Jeremiah 41:5). A tell or hill,
surrounded by higher hills, rises from an uneven plain, with
a valley on the south side. On the hill the tabernacle would
be conspicuous from all sides. On the summit of the hill are
the remains of what was once a Jewish synagogue,
subsequently used as a mosque.
On the lintel over the doorway, between two wreaths
of flowers, is carved a vessel shaped like a Roman amphora,
so closely resembling the "pot of manna," as found on coins
and in the ruins of the synagogue at Capernaum, that it
doubtless formed part of the original building. There is a
curious excavation in the rock which may have been the
actual spot where the ark rested; for its guardians would
select a place sheltered from the bleak winds of the
highlands. The position of the sanctuary was central for the
Israelites W. of Jordan. Major Wilson says northwards the
tell at Seilun slopes down to a broad shoulder, across which
a level court has been cut, 77 by 412 ft.; the rock is
scarped to the height of five feet, evidently the site of
the tabernacle. The mosque's title, the mosque of the
Eternal, points to its original occupation by Jehovah's
sanctuary.
Read More about Shiloh in Fausset's Bible Dictionary