What got me studying Shiloh?
The following is extracted from WT October 1, 2002 Comfort in a Troubled World, Nov 24 Study, Cultivate Obedience as the End Draws Near Paragraphs 1, 2. The article goes on to explain how the Faithful and Discreet Slave are ambassadors substituting for Christ(para 4). Here are the beginning paragraphs:
1 Obedience to Jehovah has often involved obedience to his representatives..(
examples are given and Isaiah 9:6,7 is referenced).Jacob prophesied about this future ruler: "The Scepter will not turn aside from Judah, neither the commanders staff from between his feet, until Shiloh comes; and to him the obedience of the peoples will belong." Genesis 49:10 NWT2 "Shiloh" is a Hebrew term meaning "He Whose It is" or "He to Whom it Belongs". Yes, Shiloh would inherit nothing less than the right to rulership, as symbolized by the scepter, and the power to command...
The message here is Shilohs right to rule and command. Is this an accurate interpretation of the scriptures? I took a closer look, and concluded that the prophesy that started with Jacob in Genesis, and repeated by Zecharaiah, was fulfilled in Mark 11 when Jesus entered Jerusalem on a colt. Jesus replaced the old law with a higher law based on humility, sacrifice, and mercy that glorious day he entered Jerusalem. I base these conclusions on a study on the meaning of Shiloh, and the intertwining prophesy and fulfillment with the humble image Jesus riding the back of a young colt on the way to his own death.
The Meaning of Shiloh
The Reasoning book gives the definition of Shiloh as "He Whose It Is", but I do not know where that originates from. The word and its root gives a strong message of peace and contentment. Here is Strongs definition of Shiloh:
shee-lo': From H7951; tranquil; Shiloh, an epithet of the Messiah: - Shiloh. Genesis 49:9-11 is the only use of this word.
shaw-law', shaw-lav' H7951: The second form being used in Job 3:26 a primitive root; to be tranquil, that is, secure or successful: - be happy, prosper, be in safety.
All the references for H7951 and H7961 (Shiloh) indeed have to do with tranquillity and contentment. The NWT consistently translates this word as carefree, at ease, free from care. (1Ch 4:40, Job 3:26, 12:6, 16:12, 20:20, 21:23, Psa 73:12, 122:6, Lam 1:5, Jer 12:1, Eze 23:42 Zec 7:6-7). Shiloh will be a different kind of ruler than has ever been seen before.
Shiloh is Also a Place
Shiloh was the town where the worship tent was set up after the conquest of Canaan. Shiloh became the centre of Israel's worship, and the tent was replaced by a more permanent building. Each year a special festival was held there. About 1050 BC, Shiloh was destroyed by the Philistines. I concluded from this that Shiloh is also associated with worship.
Jacobs Prophecy
Instead of starting with Isaiah (as the WT study did), lets start at the beginning. Jacob gave this prophesy to his son, Judah.
And Jacob called unto his sons, and said: gather yourselves together, that I may tell you that which shall befall you in the latter days... Judah is a lion's whelp; From the prey, my son, thou art gone up: He stooped down, he couched as a lion, And as a lioness; who shall rouse him up? The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, Nor the ruler's staff from between his feet, Until Shiloh come: And unto him shall the obedience of the peoples be. Binding his foal unto the vine, And his ass's colt unto the choice vine; He hath washed his garments in wine, And his vesture in the blood of grapes: Genesis 49:1, 9-11 ASV
Judah was the tribe responsible for worship, and as we can see from above, Shiloh is also strongly associated with worship. Judah's ruler's staff will transfer to Shiloh when he comes. And how will we know the rulership transfer has come? We will see the young colt. And the new ruler will wash his garments in blood.
Zechariahs Prophecy
Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy king cometh unto thee; he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, even upon a colt the foal of an ass. Zec 9:9 ASV
This king will be a different kind of ruler than has ever been seen before.
The Gospel AccountsAnd finally, Jesus directly references Zechariahs prophecy in Matthew's account of Jesus' ride in to Jerusalem:
Now this is come to pass, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through the prophet, saying, Tell ye the daughter of Zion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, Meek, and riding upon an ass, And upon a colt the foal of an ass. And the disciples went, and did even as Jesus appointed them, and brought the ass, and the colt, and put on them their garments; and he sat thereon. And the most part of the multitude spread their garments in the way; and others cut branches from the trees, and spread them in the way. And the multitudes that went before him, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest. Matthew 21:4-9 ASV
Mark, Luke, and John also added their accounts (Mark 11:4-10 Luke 19:30-40 John 2:12-16). The event was marked by music, celebration and dancing - worship to a new kind of King. The people who recognized him and worshipped him were the simple folk of Jerusalem. They celebrated and obeyed a King who gave his life instead of taking lives.
Judah's ruler's staff transferred to Shiloh when he came. He came humbly, riding on a young colt. And our new ruler washed his garments in blood. Our new king established a new covenant, asking us to remember Him by drinking the blood of grapes, His blood, which he freely gave for our lives. Therefore the old law of obedience to rules and commands is replaced by the higher law of humility, sacrifice, and mercy. The slant given by the WTS article is wrong. Jacobs prophecy was not intended to enforce obedience, but to bring tranquillity and contentment to ordinary people everywhere.
Note:
Italics are quotes from WT materials.
I use Quotes for bible references.