Joshua 18:1
And the whole congregation of the children of Israel assembled together at Shiloh, and set up the tabernacle of the congregation there. And the land was subdued before them. And the whole congregation of the children of Israel assembled together at Shiloh, and set up the tabernacle of the congregation there. And the land was subdued before them.
The tabernacle of the congregation was set up at Shiloh as its chosen permanent location after the conquest of Canaan. The move was from Gilgal, which had been the headquarters of the nation. This occurred seven years after Israel entered the promised land, when the whole congregation assembled together at Shiloh.
Shiloh was a little town in the lot of Ephraim near the center of the land, chosen as an accessible and suitable place for all the tribes. The land and surrounding country had been thoroughly subdued before them, so that worshipers coming to Shiloh would not be molested. The tribes still without an inheritance followed the tabernacle from Gilgal and camped near Shiloh until they dispersed to their possessions. The land was then divided among the tribes there, and the conquest continued with renewed vigor.
The ark, the symbol of God's presence among Israel, was associated with the tabernacle at Shiloh and remained there for three hundred years. Because of the sins of Eli's house the ark fell into the hands of the Philistines and Shiloh was ruined. The ark was never returned to the tabernacle at Shiloh, the sanctuary service was finally transferred to the temple at Jerusalem, Shiloh fell into insignificance until only ruins marked the spot, and its fate was later held up as a warning to Jerusalem of what God would do to His house for the wickedness of His people.