Joshua 18

Joshua 18:1

Shiloh] Shiloh was on the North-side of Bethel, on the East-side of the high-way from Bethel to Shechem, on the South of that Lebanon, Judg. XXI. 19. And so situated on the border between Ephraim and Benjamin; yet belonged to Ephraim, not to Benjamin, Judg. XXI. 1, 21. There was the Tabernacle, as was formerly said. There were the Lots cast for seven Tribes.

Josh. XVIII. 8. Thence were the two Tribes and a half dismissed to their Possessions, after the warre, Josh. XXII. 9. And thither were the whole Congregation of Israel gathered to go up to warre against them, upon a wrong surmise concerning the Altar Ed, ver. 12. Thither came all the other Tribes to aske counsel of the Lord in their warre against the Tribe of Benjamin, and there was their Camp, Judg.

XX. 18. and XXI. 12. and XIX. 18. Thither came Elkanah and Hannah to worship; and Samuel ministred there before the Lord, 1 Sam. I. 3. and II. 11. and III. 21. And there the Prophet Ahijah dwelt in the dayes of the first Jeroboam, 1 King. XIV. 2.

Tabernacle] The Tabernacle, coming over Jordan, was first set up in Gilgal; Not that Gilgal of the Nations, Josh. XII. 23. Gen. XIV. 1. Esay IX. 1. (whence haply Galilee might take its name); But that Gilgal in the Tribe of Benjamin, Josh. IV. 19, 20.

Afterwards in Joshua’s time it was set up here in Shiloh, in the Tribe of Ephraim, near the Center of the Land; which was by Sichem, Ch. XXIV. 1, 25, 26. And Bochim, Judg. II. 1, 5. may seeme to be conjoyned to it. It may seeme to be fetched thence for a present use, to that solemne Assembly at Shechem, in Joshua’s time, Ch. XXIV. 1, 26.

But being returned to Shiloh, it continued there above three hundred years, at least till the death of Eli, 1 Sam. I. 3, 9, 24. and II. 14. and III. 3, 21. and IV. 3. It may seeme to be again at Gilgal with the Ark, in Samuel and Sauls time, 1 Sam. X. 8. and Ch. XI. 15. But soone after we surely finde it to be at Nob in the Tribe of Benjamin, near Anathoth, Neh.

XI. 32. when David came thither in his flight from Saul, 1 Sam. XXI. 1,—9. After that sacrilegious slaughter of eighty five Priests by Saul at Nob, 1 Sam XXII. 18. it was soon removed, in the dayes of David, to Gibeon, in the same Tribe of Benjamin, (and not farre from Bethel;) the City first of the wily Gibeonites Hivites, but after given to the Priests, Josh. IX. and ch. XXI. 17. See 1 Chron.

XVI. 39, 40. and XXI. 29. and 2 Chron. I. 3, 5, 6, 13. 1 King. III. ver. 4, 5. And lastly, when Solomon had built the Temple, he brought the Tabernacle thence to Jerusalem, 1 King. VIII. 4. 2 Chron. I. 3 5 6, 13. and ch.

V. 5. And placed it likely in and among the Treasuries of the Temple.

For the Ark see the Observations on 1 Sam. IV. 3.