Commentary on Joshua - Keil & Delitzsch - David Cox

Keil and Delitzsch <strong>Commentary</strong> on the Old Testament
Shiloh , according to the Onom. , was twelve Roman miles or five hours to the south
of Neapolis (Nablus), and about eight hours to the north of Jerusalem; at present it is
a heap of ruins, bearing the name of Seilun (see Rob.
iii. p. 85). The tabernacle continued standing at Shiloh during the time of the judges,
until the ark of the covenant fell into the hands of the Philistines, in the lifetime of
Eli, when the holy tent was robbed of its soul, and reduced to the mere shadow of a
sanctuary. After this it was removed to Nob (1 Sam 21:2); but in consequence of the
massacre inflicted by Saul upon the inhabitants of this place (1 Sam 22:19), it was
taken to Gibeon (1 Kings 3:4: see Keil , Bibl. Arch. i. §22). From this time forward
Shilloh continued to decline, because the Lord had rejected it (Ps 78:60; Jer 7:12;
26:6). That it was destroyed by the Assyrians, as Knobel affirms, is not stated in the
history.
Joshua 18:2-10
And there remained among the children of Israel seven tribes, which had not yet
received their inheritance.
Survey of the Land that had yet to be Divided. - V. 2. After the tabernacle had been
set up, the casting of the lots and division of the land among the other seven tribes
were to be continued; namely at Shiloh, to which the congregation had removed with
the sanctuary.
Verse 3-4. But, for the reasons explained in Josh 14:1, these tribes showed
themselves "slack to go to possess the land which the Lord had given them," i.e., not
merely to conquer it, but to have it divided by lot, and to enter in and take possession.
Joshua charged them with this, and directed them to appoint three men for each of the
seven tribes, that they might be sent out to go through the land, and describe it
according to the measure of their inheritance. "According to their inheritance," i.e.,
with special reference to the fact that seven tribes were to receive it for their
inheritance. The description was not a formal measurement, although the art of
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