#20 Receiving Rest

Rest means different things for different people. And it is the same way in the Bible. The English word Rest has several different Hebrew and Greek words behind it. Shiloh means "the place of rest". It comes from the root word meaning tranquility. Why move from Gilgal to Shiloh? Some people argue that Shiloh is more centrally located, or that it is closer to Jerusalem, the future home of the temple. Another purposed reason was that it was close to Joshua. Joshua's home was in Ephraim and so it seemed logical that God's presence would be near Israel's leader. There is a reason given in scripture for moving the tabernacle. It is found in Deut. 12:10-11 - But when you go over the Jordan and live in the land that the LORD your God is giving you to inherit, and when he gives you rest from all your enemies around, so that you life in safety, then to the place that the LORD your God will choose, to make His name dwell there, there you shall bring all that I command you: your burnt offerings and your sacrifices, your tithes and the contribution that you present, and all your finest vow offerings that you vow to the LORD.