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ShilhimAid to Bible Understanding
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belonging to Simeon. (Josh. 19:1, 6) The list at 1 Chronicles 4:31 appears to call the same city Shaaraim. Tell el-Farʽah, some nineteen miles (31 kilometers) W of Beer-sheba, is apparently the modern location.
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ShillemAid to Bible Understanding
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SHILLEM
(Shilʹlem) [recompense].
Last named of Naphtali’s four sons listed among “the names of Israel’s sons who came into Egypt.” (Gen. 46:8, 24) He founded the tribal family of Shillemites. (Num. 26:49, 50) At 1 Chronicles 7:13 his name is spelled Shallum in the Masoretic text, though Shillem is found in seven Hebrew manuscripts.
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ShiloahAid to Bible Understanding
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SHILOAH
(Shi·loʹah) [sender].
It appears that the name “Shiloah” designated a conduit or canal at Jerusalem. One ancient canal ran from the mouth of the cave of the Gihon spring down the Kidron valley and around the end of the SE hill to a pool at the junction of the Hinnom and Tyropean valleys. The canal’s gradient of less than two-tenths of an inch for each yard (about four or five millimeters for each meter) produced a slow gentle flow, a feature that would fit the “waters of the Shiloah that are going gently.” The reference to these “waters of the Shiloah” at Isaiah 8:6 is figurative and represents the source of real salvation and security.
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ShilohAid to Bible Understanding
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SHILOH
(Shiʹloh).
1. In pronouncing a blessing upon Judah, the dying patriarch Jacob said: “The scepter will not turn aside from Judah, neither the commander’s staff from between his feet, until Shiloh comes; and to him the obedience of the people will belong.” (Gen. 49:10) Beginning with the rule of the Judean David, power to command (the commander’s staff) and regal sovereignty (the scepter) were the possessions of the tribe of Judah. This was to continue until the coming of Shiloh, indicating that the royal line of Judah would terminate in Shiloh as the permanent heir. Similarly, before the overthrow of the kingdom of Judah, Jehovah indicated to the last Judean king, Zedekiah, that rulership would be given to one having the legal right. (Ezek. 21:26, 27) This would evidently be Shiloh, as the name “Shiloh” is understood to signify “He Whose It Is,” or, “He to Whom It Belongs.”
In the centuries that followed, Jesus Christ is the only descendant of David to whom kingship was promised. Before the birth of Jesus the angel Gabriel said to Mary: “Jehovah God will give him the throne of David his father, and he will rule as king over the house of Jacob forever, and there will be no end of his kingdom.” (Luke 1:32, 33) Therefore, Shiloh must be Jesus Christ, “the Lion that is of the tribe of Judah.”—Rev. 5:5; compare Isaiah 11:10; Romans 15:12.
Concerning the ancient Jewish view of Genesis 49:10, a Commentary edited by F. C. Cook (Vol. I, p. 233) notes: “All Jewish antiquity referred the prophecy to Messiah. Thus the Targum of Onkelos has ‘until the Messiah come, whose is the kingdom;’ the Jerusalem Targum, ‘until the time that the king Messiah shall come, whose is the kingdom.’ . . . So the Babylonian Talmud (‘Sanhedrim,’ cap. II. fol. 982), ‘What is Messiah’s name? His name is Shiloh, for it is written, Until Shiloh come.’”
2. A city located in the territory of Ephraim and “north of Bethel, toward the east of the highway that goes up from Bethel to Shechem and toward the south of Lebonah.” (Judg. 21:19) The suggested identification for Shiloh (Khirbet Seilun, about ten miles [16 kilometers] NE of Bethel) fits this Biblical description. The site occupies a hill and, with the exception of a valley on the SW, is surrounded by higher hills.
After the tabernacle was set up at Shiloh (Josh. 18:1) the apportioning of the land to the Israelites was completed from there. (Josh. 18:1–21:42) Following the division of the land the tribes E of the Jordan erected an altar by that river. Viewing this as an act of apostasy, the other tribes assembled at Shiloh to fight against them. However, when it was explained that the altar was to be a memorial of faithfulness to Jehovah, peaceful relations were maintained.—Josh. 22:10-34.
Later, twelve thousand valiant Israelite warriors undertook punitive action against the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead for failing to join in the fight against the Benjamites. However, four hundred virgins of Jabesh-gilead were brought to Shiloh and later given to the Benjamites. The Benjamites were also instructed to get other wives from the daughters of Shiloh, carrying them off by force as the women participated in the circle dances associated with the yearly festival to Jehovah held at Shiloh.—Judg. 21:8-23.
During most, if not all, of the period covered by the book of Judges, the tabernacle remained at Shiloh. (Judg. 18:31; 1 Sam. 1:3, 9, 24; 2:14; 3:21; 1 Ki. 2:27) Shortly before High Priest Eli’s death the Israelites, while fighting the Philistines, removed the Ark from the tabernacle and transferred it to the battlefield, trusting in its presence to give them victory. However, Jehovah allowed the Philistines to capture the Ark. As it was never returned to Shiloh, this signified that Jehovah had forsaken Shiloh, since the Ark represented his presence. (1 Sam. 4:2-11) The forsaking of Shiloh is alluded to by the psalmist (Ps. 78:60, 61; compare 1 Samuel 4:21, 22) and is used in Jeremiah’s prophecy to illustrate what Jehovah was going to do to the temple at Jerusalem.—Jer. 7:12, 14; 26:6, 9.
In the tenth century B.C.E. the prophet Ahijah lived at Shiloh. (1 Ki. 12:15; 14:2, 4) After the assassination of Gedaliah, in 607 B.C.E., certain men from Shiloh (either from the city or the region) came to Jerusalem to sacrifice.—Jer. 41:5.
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ShiloniteAid to Bible Understanding
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SHILONITE
(Shiʹlo·nite).
1. An alternate form (used in the plural) for the name of the family that sprang from Judah’s third son Shelah.—1 Chron. 9:5; Gen. 46:12; see SHELAH No. 2; SHELANITES.
2. An inhabitant of Shiloh, a town of quite some prominence in Israel’s history. The designation is applied in Scripture only to the prophet Ahijah from Shiloh.—1 Ki. 11:29; 12:15; 15:29; 2 Chron. 9:29; 10:15.
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ShilshahAid to Bible Understanding
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SHILSHAH
(Shilʹshah) [third].
A valiant, mighty chieftain in the tribe of Asher; son or descendant of Zophah.—1 Chron. 7:36, 37, 40.
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ShimeaAid to Bible Understanding
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SHIMEA
(Shimʹe·a) [he (God) has heard].
1. A Merarite Levite.—1 Chron. 6:29, 30.
2. Ancestor of temple musician Asaph in the Levitical family of Gershon (Gershom).—1 Chron. 6:39, 43; Ex. 6:16.
3. The third son of Jesse, hence an older brother of David.—1 Chron. 2:13, 15; 20:7; see SHAMMAH No. 2.
4. A son borne by Bath-sheba to David. (1 Chron. 3:5) He is elsewhere called Shammua.—2 Sam. 5:14; 1 Chron. 14:4.
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ShimeahAid to Bible Understanding
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SHIMEAH
(Shimʹe·ah).
1. Son of Mikloth, a Benjamite related to King Saul’s ancestors; also called Shimeam.—1 Chron. 8:32; 9:35-39.
2. Another name for David’s brother Shammah.—1 Sam. 16:9; 2 Sam. 13:3, 32; see SHAMMAH No. 2.
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ShimeamAid to Bible Understanding
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SHIMEAM
(Shimʹe·am).
Son of Mikloth, who, it appears, lived in Jerusalem. This Benjamite was related to King Saul’s ancestors. (1 Chron. 9:35-39) He is called Shimeah at 1 Chronicles 8:32.
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