Psalm 78 60

Psalm 78:60 kjv

So that he forsook the tabernacle of Shiloh, the tent which he placed among men;

Psalm 78:60 nkjv

So that He forsook the tabernacle of Shiloh, The tent He had placed among men,

Psalm 78:60 niv

He abandoned the tabernacle of Shiloh, the tent he had set up among humans.

Psalm 78:60 esv

He forsook his dwelling at Shiloh, the tent where he dwelt among mankind,

Psalm 78:60 nlt

Then he abandoned his dwelling at Shiloh,
the Tabernacle where he had lived among the people.

Psalm 78 verses

Psalm 78 60 Meaning

Psalm 78:60 describes a profound act of divine judgment where God abandoned Shiloh, the location of His tabernacle and ark for centuries. This verse highlights a significant turning point in Israel's history, signifying God's withdrawal of His visible presence from that specific chosen dwelling due to the people's persistent unfaithfulness and provocation, particularly in the period leading up to the ark's capture by the Philistines.

Psalm 78 60 Context

Psalm 78 is a "Maschil" (instructive psalm) that recounts Israel's history of rebellion, ingratitude, and unfaithfulness towards God from the Exodus to the time of David. The psalmist uses this historical narrative to instruct subsequent generations about God's steadfast love and judgment, urging them to avoid the mistakes of their forefathers. Verses 9-64 specifically detail events from the wilderness wanderings, the conquest of Canaan, the period of the Judges, and the failures that led to significant consequences. Verse 60 specifically refers to a critical event during the time of the Judges, leading into the establishment of the monarchy, where God's active, visible presence, as embodied in the tabernacle and ark, was removed from Shiloh. This period was marked by spiritual decline, as seen in the accounts of Eli's wicked sons and the general disobedience of the people which provoked divine wrath. The abandonment of Shiloh served as a powerful sign of God's displeasure and a prelude to His choice of Jerusalem and the Davidic line as the new center of His covenant activities.

Psalm 78 60 Word analysis

• So that he forsook: (וַיִּטֹּשׁ - vayyiṭṭōš). Derived from the Hebrew root נָטַשׁ (nataš), meaning "to abandon, forsake, neglect, leave." This is a strong, definitive verb indicating God's deliberate and permanent withdrawal of His special presence from Shiloh. It is not merely a temporary absence but a judicial act of abandoning a previously favored site, signaling judgment for severe unfaithfulness. God did not cease to be sovereign or omnipresent, but He ceased to make Shiloh the focal point of His covenant dwelling.
• the tabernacle of Shiloh: (מִשְׁכַּן שִׁלוֹ - miškan Shiloh).
  • tabernacle (מִשְׁכַּן - miškan): This Hebrew word refers to the portable sanctuary where God’s presence dwelt among Israel, particularly in the Holy of Holies. It means "dwelling place" and is intrinsically linked to the concept of God "tabernacling" or "dwelling" with His people. The act of forsaking the mishkan meant removing the physical manifestation of His covenant presence and glory from that specific location.
  • Shiloh (שִׁלוֹ - Shiloh): This was a significant cultic center in Ephraim where the tabernacle and the Ark of the Covenant had rested for over 300 years after the conquest of Canaan (Josh 18:1). It represented God's chosen place of worship for much of the period of the Judges. Its abandonment marks a decisive end to its special status.
• the tent: (אֹהֶל - ’ōhel). Another Hebrew word for "tent" or "dwelling," often used interchangeably or in parallel with miškan. Its inclusion emphasizes the temporary, portable nature of this specific dwelling and perhaps reinforces the completeness of the abandonment – the structure itself, in its sacred function, was no longer chosen.
• which he placed among men: (שִׁכֵּן בָּאָדָם - shikkēn bāʾādām).
  • placed (שִׁכֵּן - shikkēn): From the Hebrew root שָׁכַן (shakan), meaning "to dwell, settle, abide." This root is famously linked to the concept of the Shekinah glory (though Shekinah is a later rabbinic term, not directly found in the Hebrew Bible, it reflects this biblical concept of God's manifest presence). It highlights God's gracious condescension to make His presence tangibly available among His human creation.
  • among men (בָּאָדָם - bāʾādām): Literally "in humanity" or "among human beings." This phrase underscores the previous privilege and intimacy of God's dwelling being with His people, making the act of abandonment even more potent and sorrowful. It was a visible sign of a broken relationship from humanity's side.

Psalm 78 60 Bonus section

The abandonment of Shiloh initiated a transitional period for Israel, culminating in the establishment of Jerusalem as God's chosen city and the site for Solomon's Temple. This move signified God's ultimate rejection of Shiloh and the northern tribes' leadership (Ephraim, where Shiloh was located, see Ps 78:67-68). The narrative implies that God would not tolerate continued desecration of His dwelling place and would indeed remove His tangible presence if His people persisted in their sin. This event, where the glory "departed," serves as a precursor to future prophetic warnings, such as Jeremiah's use of Shiloh's fate to predict the destruction of Solomon's Temple (Jer 7:12-14), and ultimately, Ezekiel's vision of God's glory departing from the Second Temple before its destruction. It emphasizes that while God is faithful to His covenant promises, the form and location of His earthly manifestation can be altered or withdrawn based on human response.

Psalm 78 60 Commentary

Psalm 78:60 serves as a stark reminder of the gravity of Israel's unfaithfulness. God, who had graciously condescended to "place among men" His manifest presence in the tabernacle at Shiloh, deliberately "forsook" that sacred dwelling. This was not a whimsical act but a divine judgment, a consequence of centuries of spiritual idolatry, rebellion, and moral corruption by His chosen people, exemplified by the abuses of Eli's sons and the nation's turning away from Him (1 Sam 2:12-36, 4:1-11). The visible symbol of God's presence, the Ark of the Covenant, was allowed to be captured by the Philistines, signaling the removal of His protective favor from that site. The loss of Shiloh as the central sanctuary and the "departure of glory" (Ichabod, 1 Sam 4:21) demonstrated that God's presence, though assured by covenant, was conditional upon obedience regarding its earthly manifestation. It underscored God’s absolute sovereignty in choosing where to put His name, a choice that He would later transfer to Jerusalem, symbolizing a new chapter and covenant loyalty. The enduring lesson is that no physical structure, however sacred, can retain divine favor if the people living under its shadow betray the covenant relationship.