Joshua 18 - Tabernacle at Shiloh | Bible Podcast, David Alley, Peace Christian Church

In this video listen to Joshua 18 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.

In Joshua 18 the tabernacle is set up in Shiloh. This was the home of the tabernacle for about 400 years now until David took the ark to Jerusalem, and then shortly afterwards Solomon built the temple. Biblical Shiloh is called Khirbet Seilun about 42 kilometres north of Jerusalem. It was in the inheritance of Ephraim. The associates for Biblical Research have a dig at Shiloh which has been going now for many years.

They have concluded that there were three sites that the tabernacle was setup on and they moved between them, possibly to adjust for the season and prevailing wind etc. At this point 5 tribes have already received an inheritance. The tribes of Reuben (the oldest), Joseph being two, who was Jacob’s chosen firstborn, and Judah who seems to have been the Lord’s chosen firstborn and Gad have all received inheritance, leaving 7 tribes plus the Levites.

The land was now surveyed, and then divided by lot. The first lot was for Benjamin who bordered Judah, which meant that ultimately the city of Jerusalem was inside of Benjamin and this kept both it and Judah together after the nation divided after Solomon’s death. It is the Lord who determines the lot. In Psalm 15:5-6 it says “Lord, you alone are my portion and my cup; you make my lot secure.

The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance.” Spiritually we make our plans, but the Lord determines the outcome and our trust is placed in Him as in this Psalm. Benjamin’s lot fell in such a place as to ensure its future connection with the Lord’s temple.