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The Consecration and Defilement of the Tabernacle at Shiloh

The Tabernacle, a portable sanctuary constructed according to divine instruction, was a central place of worship for the Israelites [2]. After the conquest of Canaan, the entire congregation of Israel assembled at Shiloh and set up the Tabernacle there, establishing it as the central sanctuary [4, 6, 10]. Shiloh was located between Shechem and Jerusalem [9]. This move from Gilgal was made once the land was largely subdued, placing the Tabernacle further into the land and closer to the future site of Jerusalem [7].

The consecration of the Tabernacle at Shiloh meant it was devoted to sacred uses, a concept of dedication that applied to places of worship, covenants, and various items and persons in ancient Israel [1]. Offerings of lesser sanctity, such as peace offerings and the second tithe, could be eaten in any place overlooking Shiloh, as it was not a walled city. However, offerings of the most sacred order were eaten only within the Tabernacle's hangings [12].

Despite its initial consecration, the Tabernacle at Shiloh eventually suffered defilement and destruction. According to Rabbi Yoḥanan ben Torta in the Babylonian Talmud, the Tabernacle in Shiloh was destroyed due to "forbidden sexual relations and degradation of consecrated items" [5, 8]. This refers to the actions of Eli's sons, who "lay with the women who did service at the opening of the Tent of Meeting" [5]. The defilement of sacred spaces and objects was a serious offense, with various acts and conditions leading to ceremonial impurity in Israelite law [3].

The destruction of the Tabernacle at Shiloh occurred around 1045 BC, when the Philistines captured the Ark of the Covenant and destroyed the sanctuary [9, 13]. This event is understood as divine judgment against the people for their disobedience and for treating the Ark as a "magical talisman" [9, 13]. The Tabernacle had become a fixed temple building by the time of Eli and Samuel [14]. After its destruction, the Tabernacle was moved to Nob and then to Gibeon [11]. The memory of Shiloh's destruction served as a warning against future disobedience, indicating that even the Temple in Jerusalem could face a similar fate if the people continued in their transgressions [13].

Sources

  1. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Dedication — Consecration of a place of worship -- 2Ch 2:4. Solemn confirmation of a covenant -- Heb 9:18. Devoting any thing to sacred uses -- 1Ch 28:12. Subjects of Tabernacle. -- Nu 7:1-89. Temple of Solomon. -- 1Ki 8:1-63; 2Ch 7:5. Second temple. -- Ezr 6:16,17. Persons. -- Ex 22:29; 1Sa 1:11. Property. -- Le 27:28; Mt 15:5. Spoils of war. -- 2Sa 8:11; 1Ch 18:11. Tribute from foreigners. -- 2Sa 8:10,11. Walls of cities. -- Ne 12:27. Houses when built. -- De 20:5; Ps 30:1. By idolaters in setting up idols -- Da 3:2,3. Things dedicated to God Esteemed holy. -- Le 2”
  2. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Tabernacle — Moses was commanded to make after a divine pattern -- Ex 25:9; 26:30; Heb 8:5. Made of the free-will offerings of the people -- Ex 25:1-8; 35:4,5,21-29. Divine wisdom given to Bezaleel to make -- Ex 31:2-7; 35:30-35; 36:1. Called the Tabernacle of the Lord. -- Jos 22:19; 1Ki 2:28; 1Ch 16:39. Tabernacle of testimony or witness. -- Ex 38:21; Nu 1:50; 17:7,8; 2Ch 24:6; Ac 7:44. Tabernacle of the congregation. -- Ex 27:21; 33:7; 40:26. Tabernacle of Shiloh. -- Ps 78:60. Tabernacle of Joseph. -- Ps 78:67. Temple of the Lord. -- 1Sa 1:9; 3:3. House of the Lord”
  3. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Defilement — Forbidden to the Jews -- Le 11:44,45. Things liable to ceremonial The person. -- Le 5:3. Garments. -- Le 13:59. Furniture, &c. -- Le 15:9,10; Nu 19:14,15. Houses. -- Le 14:44. The land. -- Le 18:25; De 21:23. The sanctuary. -- Le 20:3; Zep 3:4. Ceremonial caused by Eating unclean things. -- Le 11:8; Ac 10:11,14. Eating things that died. -- Le 17:15. Touching a dead body or a bone. -- Nu 9:6,7; 19:11,16. Touching a grave. -- Nu 19:16. Touching a dead beast. -- Le 5:2; 11:24-28. Being alone with a dead body. -- Nu 19:14. Mourning for the dead. -- Le 21:1-3”
  4. Joshua “Joshua 18:1 (Geneva1599) — And the whole Congregation of the children of Israel, came together at Shiloh: for they set vp the Tabernacle of the Congregation there, after the land was subiect vnto them.”
  5. Babylonian Talmud (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Babylonian Talmud, Yoma 9a.6: § Apropos the sins of the High Priests in the Second Temple, the Gemara cites that Rabbi Yoḥanan ben Torta said: Due to what reason was the Tabernacle in Shiloh destroyed in the time of the prophet Samuel? It was destroyed due to the fact that there were two matters that existed in the Tabernacle: Forbidden sexual relations and degradation of consecrated items. There were forbidden sexual relations, as it is written: “Now Eli was very old and he heard what his sons were doing to all of Israel, how they lay with the women who did service at the opening of the Tent ”
  6. Joshua (Lutheran) “Keil & Delitzsch on Joshua 18 (introduction): 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 place”
  7. Joshua (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Joshua 18:1: And the whole congregation of the children of Israel assembled together at Shiloh,.... The whole body of the people, men, women, and children, as well as the camp, Jos 18:9; at least all that had not received their inheritances in the land. Hither they came from Gilgal, where the camp and tabernacle had been ever since their passage over Jordan; but now the land being in the main subdued, that was too far off both for the camp and tabernacle, and therefore they moved further into the land, and nearer Jerusalem, where in time the tabernacle was to be placed. The place ”
  8. Babylonian Talmud (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Babylonian Talmud, Yoma 176a.17:6: § Apropos the sins of the High Priests in the Second Temple, the Gemara cites that Rabbi Yoḥanan ben Torta said: Due to what reason was the Tabernacle in Shiloh destroyed in the time of the prophet Samuel? It was destroyed due to the fact that there were two matters that existed in the Tabernacle: Forbidden sexual relations and degradation of consecrated items. There were forbidden sexual relations, as it is written: “Now Eli was very old and he heard what his sons were doing to all of Israel, how they lay with the women who did service at the opening of the ”
  9. Jeremiah (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Jeremiah 7:12: 7:12-15 God had allowed the Philistines to capture the Ark of the Covenant and destroy the Tabernacle at Shiloh when the people tried to use the Ark as a magical talisman (1 Sam 4:1-11). In the same way, he would allow the Babylonians to destroy the Temple. 7:12 Shiloh was a hill located halfway between Shechem and Jerusalem. The Tabernacle had been set up there after the conquest of Canaan led by Joshua (Josh 18:1, 6-19; Judg 18:31). It remained the center of worship for the tribes of Israel until Shiloh was destroyed about 1045 BC by the Philistine army (see J”
  10. Joshua (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Joshua 18 (introduction): THE TABERNACLE SET UP AT SHILOH. (Jos 18:1) the whole congregation . . . assembled together at Shiloh--The main body of the Israelites had been diminished by the separation of the three tribes, Judah, Ephraim, and Manasseh into their respective allotments; and the country having been in a great measure subdued, the camp was removed to Shiloh (now Seilun). It was twenty or twenty-five miles north of Jerusalem, twelve north of Beth-el, and ten south of Shechem, and embosomed in a rugged and romantic glen. This sequestered spot in the heart ”
  11. Babylonian Talmud (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Babylonian Talmud, Zevachim 118b.20: And a tanna taught: When Eli the priest died, Shiloh was destroyed and the Jews arrived at Nov, where they erected the Tabernacle. At that time, Samuel began to lead the people. When Samuel from Rama died, Nov was destroyed by Saul (see I Samuel 22:19) and they arrived at Gibeon, where the Tabernacle remained (see I Chronicles 16:39).”
  12. Mishnah (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Mishnah, Mishnah Megillah 1:11: The difference between the Tabernacle in Shilo and the Temple in Jerusalem is only that in Shiloh one eats offerings of lesser sanctity, e.g., individual peace-offerings, thanks-offerings, and the Paschal lamb, and also the second tithe, in any place that overlooks Shiloh, as Shiloh was not a walled city and any place within its Shabbat boundary was regarded as part of the city. And in Jerusalem one eats those consecrated items only within the walls. And here, in Shiloh, and there, in Jerusalem, offerings of the most sacred order are eaten only within the hangin”
  13. Jeremiah (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Jeremiah 26:4: 26:4-6 The people’s ancestors had chosen the way of disobedience; as a result, their sanctuary at Shiloh, north of Jerusalem, had been destroyed (7:12-15; 1 Sam 1–4). Similarly, continued disobedience of the covenant commands by the people in Jeremiah’s day would result in the destruction of the Temple and Jerusalem.”
  14. Psalms (Lutheran) “Keil & Delitzsch on Psalms 78:60: The rejection of Shiloh and of the people worshipping there, but later on, when the God of Israel is again overwhelmed by compassion, the election of Judah, and of Mount Zion, and of David, the king after His own heart. In the time of the Judges the Tabernacle was set up in Shiloh (Jos 18:1); there, consequently, was the central sanctuary of the whole people, - in the time of Eli and Samuel, as follows from Sa1 1:1, it had become a fixed temple building. When this building was destroyed is not known; according to Jdg 18:30., cf. Jer 7:12-15, it was probably no”
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