Jeremiah 7:12

Shiloh. A town in the territory of Ephraim whose location is indicated in Judges 21:19. Its central position made it a desirable site for the sanctuary (see Joshua 18:1). Shiloh was the home of the ark for 300 years. At the end of that period the ark fell into the hands of the Philistines (see 1 Sam. 4:10, 11). Because of Israel’s grievous idolatry God “forsook the tabernacle of Shiloh” (Ps. 78:60). The Philistines captured the ark and presumably at this time destroyed the city (see on 1 Sam. 5:1).

The site of Shiloh, now known as Seilûn, was excavated by a group of Danish archeologists under the leadership of H. Kjaer from 1926 to 1932. They reached the conclusion that the city was occupied in the Middle Bronze Age and again from about the 13th to the 11th century B.C.; that about the beginning of the 11th century it was destroyed by fire; and that apparently the town was little occupied from about 1100 to 300 B.C. These archeological findings are in harmony with the Biblical data. Although the Bible gives no definite account of the city’s destruction, it does mention the defeat of the Israelites by the Philistines at Ebenezer and Aphek and the capture of the ark (1 Sam. 4:1–11). Probably the city was burned at this time.

What I did to it. Could the ark in Jerusalem guarantee any greater immunity to that city than it had to Shiloh of old? The fate of Shiloh shows that it is not safe to depend upon mere external worship for salvation. Eli lightly regarded the wicked practices of his sons (see 1 Sam. 2:12–17, 22–25), and the people depended on the ark, rather than on true heart religion, to bring them the approval of God. These sins brought upon Shiloh the judgment of God (see 1 Sam. 4:17; Ps. 78:55–64). Jeremiah warns the people that the same chastisement that came upon Shiloh and its sanctuary is about to descend upon Jerusalem and its Temple (Jer. 7:14).

The wickedness. See 1 Sam. 2:12.