About ancient Shiloh

 

How can we be sure that this is truly the site of ancient Shilo? Its location is mentioned in the book of Judges as “north of Bet-El, east of the path going up from Beth-El to Shechem and south of Levonah.” (Judges 21:19). The name Shiloh was preserved by the local population who called the hill Khirvat Silon. Its conclusive identification with Shiloh was confirmed in 2006 when archeologists found a prayer for the inhabitants of Shiloh on the mosaic floor from a 4th century church in Shilo.

 

Tel Shiloh was the site of a long-standing, fortified, Middle Bronze Age Canaanite city from about 1800 to 1550 BCE. After its possible destruction around the end of the of the Middle Bronze Age, it was resettled in the Late Bronze Age (c. 1550–1200 BCE). The city was taken over by the Israelites at the time of Joshua and allotted to the tribe of Ephraim. Allocation of tribal portions was performed by Joshua in Shilo, and the Tabernacle was also erected here: “The whole congregation of Israel assembled together at Shiloh and set up the tent (or Tabernacle) of the congregation there” (Joshua 18:1). It continued to be the central shrine for the Israelites during the pre-monarchic period, and the tribes would visit here three times a year during the pilgrimage festivals.

 

The Tabernacle was built by Moses a year after the Exodus and was a temporary structure for sacrifices and for a place for God “to dwell among” the Israelites. Within the Holy of Holies was the Ark of the Covenant. On top of the ark were the keruvim, likely representing the throne of God. 

 

While in Shiloh, the tent of the Tabernacle was enclosed within a wall and a roof was added. Within the inner sanctuary of the Holy of Holies was the Ark of the Covenant. This was captured at the time of Eli the priest when it was taken out to battle against the Philistines (1 Samuel 4:3-5). The two corrupt sons of Eli were also killed during this battle. Eli died on hearing the news of of their deaths. The city of Shiloh was also destroyed by the Philistines.

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After seven months, the Ark of the Covenant was abandoned by the Philistines after they suffered multiple calamities while it was in their possession. After Shiloh’s destruction, the Ark was moved to Nov, then to Gibeon, and finally taken to Jerusalem by King David. It remained separate from the Tabernacle until the Temple was built by Solomon in Jerusalem. 

Jews lived in Shiloh during First Temple times after its destruction by the Philistines. Jeremiah prophesied that the Temple could be destroyed just as happened in Shilo: “For go to My shrine that is in Shiloh, where I caused My name to dwell there at first, and see what I did to it because of the wickedness of My people Israel.” (Jeremiah 7:12). Jews returned here during the Second Temple period and remained until the end of the Bar Kochba Revolt.

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The hero of Shiloh is a person who did not live here that long – Samuel – who spent his youth here after having been lent to the Temple by his mother Hanna and placed under the tutelage of Eli the Cohen. With the destruction of Shiloh, it now fell on Samuel to maintain the unity of the tribes. He was a prophet and judge for the people and maintained a regular judicial circuit.  After 20 years of occupation by the Philistines, he coordinated a successful battle against them, which ushered in a long period of peace. During the Byzantine period, churches were built in a place known to have aspects of holiness.

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There have been different ideas as to where the Sanctuary might have stood. It could have been in a southern location close to the gates of the city and archeology was carried out in this location, but without positive findings. It is unlikely that it was located in the middle of the tel, as there would have been no room for visitors. However, north of the city a carved-out area into bedrock was found, with two short walls running north and south and separated by a width of 25 meters. This would have fit the 50-cubit width of the Tabernacle as described in the Bible (Exodus 27:9-13). This location also fits the book of Samuel when the messenger arrives in Shiloh to report on Israel’s defeat at the battle of Even HaEzer. No bones have been found around this area, although shards of pottery have been found in the adjacent hills where families who came to the Sanctuary may have camped out.