Commentary on Joshua - Keil & Delitzsch - David Cox

Keil and Delitzsch <strong>Commentary</strong> on the Old Testament
Joshua 18:1
And the whole congregation of the children of Israel assembled together at Shiloh,
and set up the tabernacle of the congregation there. And the land was subdued
before them.
The Tabernacle Set Up at Shiloh. - As soon as the tribe of Ephraim had received its
inheritance, Joshua commanded the whole congregation to assemble in Shiloh, and
there set up the tabernacle, in order that, as the land was conquered, the worship of
Jehovah might henceforth be regularly observed in accordance with the law. The
selection of Shiloh as the site for the sanctuary was hardly occasioned by the fitness
of the place for this purpose, on account of its being situated upon a mountain in the
centre of the land, for there were many other places that would have been quite as
suitable in this respect; the reason is rather to be found in the name of the place, viz.,
Shiloh , i.e., rest, which called to mind the promised Shiloh (Gen 49:10), and
therefore appeared to be pre-eminently suitable to be the resting-place of the
sanctuary of the Lord, where His name was to dwell in Israel, until He should come
who was to give true rest to His people as the Prince of Peace. In any case, however,
Joshua did not follow his own judgment in selecting Shiloh for this purpose, but acted
in simple accordance with the instructions of God, as the Lord had expressly reserved
to himself the choice of the place where His name should dwell (Deut 12:11).
Shiloh , according to the Onom. , was twelve Roman miles or five hours to the south
of Neapolis (Nablus), and
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