Shi´loh
An ancient religious center of Israel. Located about ten miles north of Bethel to the east of the Jerusalem-Nablus road (Judg 21:19), it is identified with modern Khirbet Seilun. Shiloh was the administrative and religious center for the Israelite tribes during the early settlement period (twelfth century BCE). There the tabernacle was set up (Josh 18:1), the distribution of the land by lot took place (Josh 18; Josh 19), the Levites were assigned their cities (Judg 21), and the ten tribes gathered to consider the apostasy of the east Jordan tribes (Josh 22). Shiloh was the central sanctuary and seat of the priesthood (Eleazar, Josh 21:1-2) until the Ark was captured in the battle with the Philistines at Ebenezer (1Sam 4). The Ark was not returned to Shiloh, and the city never regained its prestige. Shiloh’s destruction by the Philistines is not related in the OT, but Jeremiah cites its fate in his prophecies (Jer 7:12-14; Jer 26:6-9).
