Before moving to Shiloh the Israelites were encamped at Gilgal near Jericho (Joshua 4:19; Joshua 5:9; Joshua 9:6; Joshua 10:6; Joshua 14:6). Gilgal was their main camp throughout the invasion of Canaan and also the place where the allotments of Judah and Joseph appear to have been distributed. The move to Shiloh is not explained by the text. Most probably it was because Shiloh had a more central location, being in the territory of Ephraim (Joshua 16:6). It would thus be a better location from which to send out scouts into the remaining areas of land. It would also be a more central location for worship. The Lord had promised that he would appoint a place to which the tribes would come for worship (see Leviticus 26:11–12; Deuteronomy 12:1–32) and Shiloh was the first established site. Shiloh would remain an important religious centre until the taking of Jerusalem (see Joshua 19:51; Joshua 21:2; Judges 18:31; Judges 21:12; 1 Samuel 1:9). The ark was also kept there (1 Samuel 3:3).
1 Then the whole congregation of the people of Israel assembled at Shiloh and set up the tent of meeting there. The land lay subdued before them.