Joshua 18:1

A number of important subjects are discussed in this chapter.

(1) The setting up of the tabernacle at Shiloh is mentioned (Joshua 18:1);

(2) preparations to give their allotments to the remaining seven tribes are announced (Joshua 18:2-7);

(3) an explanation of how the distribution will be made is given (Joshua 18:7);

(4) the survey is made; Joshua casts the lots, and the divisions are made (Joshua 18:8-10).

(5) The boundaries of Benjamin are given (Joshua 18:11-20); and

(6) the cities of Benjamin are listed (Joshua 18:21-28).

"And the whole congregation of the children of Israel assembled themselves together at Shiloh, and set up the tent of meeting there: and the land was subdued before them."

The apparent reason for mentioning this change of the tabernacle from Gilgal near the Jordan, where it had been set up shortly after the Jordan crossing, is that it was to remain there at Shiloh for a long time. "The tabernacle remained at Shiloh for more than 300 years."[1] In fact, it remained there until the times of Eli and the loss of the Ark of the Covenant to the Philistines who also destroyed the city (1 Samuel 4:1-11). "Shiloh succeeded Gilgal as the central shrine of Israel until it was destroyed about 1050 B.C., presumably by the Philistines."[2]

"Shiloh ..." We agree with Cook that in all probability, Joshua himself, acting under the influence of direct revelation from God named this town.[3] The name "Shiloh" first occurs in Genesis 49:10; but this is the first usage of the word as a place-name. It was exceedingly appropriate that this glorious Messianic word should have been applied to the site of the Holy Tabernacle, because the tabernacle itself, as regards its High Priest, its numerous sacrifices, etc. was typical of Messiah himself. We are aware that current scholarship of the critical variety is unwilling to allow the Messianic thrust of the passage in Genesis, but the simple truth is that the passage is either Messianic, or it has no meaning whatever! (See my discussion of this in Vol. 1 of the Pentateuchal series, pp. 556-559.)

Shiloh is identified with the modern Seilun, now a ruined site on a hill, 9 miles north of Bethel and 3 miles southeast of El-Lubban.[4] The location of Shiloh "is minutely described in Judges 21:19, but it is difficult to understand why, since Shiloh must have been well known to all the dwellers in Israel at that time."[5] The same author suggested that this particular site for the tabernacle was "probably made by Urim and Thummim, the case being important enough for such a decision."[6] We have not been able to find another student of this book who corroborates our view as to why that "minute description" of the location of this place was given in Joshua 21:19, but, could it not have been because this was altogether a new location? Certainly the name Shiloh, as used here, was new, and no prior name of the place is given, so why not?