Psalm 78:67-68
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The verse highlights not just a change in location, but a divine shift in emphasis from the house of Joseph (represented by Ephraim and Shiloh) to the tribe of Judah and Mount Zion. This signifies God’s deliberate choice to establish His dwelling place elsewhere, marking a pivotal moment where leadership and sacred prominence moved from the Ephraimites to the lineage that would produce David.
He rejected the tent of Joseph; he did not choose the tribe of Ephraim, but he chose the tribe of Judah, Mount Zion, which he loves.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This passage marks a pivotal shift in God's dwelling place among His people, moving away from the territory of Joseph's descendants, specifically the tribe of Ephraim where the tabernacle was located at Shiloh. Instead, God chose the tribe of Judah and Mount Zion, signifying a new center for worship and a change in leadership, ultimately leading to the selection of David as king. This reorientation reflects Israel's past unfaithfulness and God's sovereign choice to establish His presence and kingdom in a new way.
Have you ever felt like God's presence shifted in your life or in your community? This verse points to a seismic shift in Israel's history.
This verse highlights a pivotal moment where God's chosen place of worship, the Tabernacle, was no longer associated with the tribe of Joseph (specifically Ephraim) and the sanctuary at Shiloh.
Why would God choose one tribe over another? This verse hints at a divine decision deeply intertwined with human actions.
The rejection of Ephraim and the subsequent choosing of Judah for God's dwelling place wasn't arbitrary. It speaks to God's sovereign choices, often made in response to the faithfulness or unfaithfulness of His people.
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Understand the original words
ma'as · Hebrew Verb
The act of refusing, casting off, or setting aside someone or something, often signifying the withdrawal of divine favor or covenantal selection due to disobedience or shifting of divine purpose.
bachar · Hebrew Verb
To select, elect, or pick out from among others for a specific purpose or relationship. In scripture, this is the sovereign act of God choosing individuals or groups for His own holy ends.
This verse points to a pivotal moment when God shifted the center of Israel's worship from Shiloh, located in the territory of the influential tribe of Ephraim, to Jerusalem in the tribe of Judah. This was a direct consequence of the Philistine destruction of Shiloh and the subsequent move of the Ark, symbolizing a re-orientation of divine favor and national identity.
c. 1100 BC— this verse
Destruction of Shiloh
The Philistines sacked the sanctuary at Shiloh, where the Ark of the Covenant had been housed for generations. This event marked the effective end of Shiloh as Israel's central place of worship and signified a major shift in God's favor.
c. 1070 BC
Ark's Return to Kiriath-jearim
After being captured by the Philistines, the Ark of the Covenant was eventually returned to Israel but not to Shiloh. It remained in Kiriath-jearim for about 70 years, highlighting Shiloh's lost status.
c. 1040 BC
David Establishes Jerusalem
King David captured Jerusalem and made it his capital, subsequently bringing the Ark of the Covenant to the city. This marked the beginning of Jerusalem's prominence as the religious and political center of Israel.
c. 970 BC
Solomon Builds the Temple
David's son, Solomon, built a magnificent permanent Temple in Jerusalem to house the Ark of the Covenant, solidifying Jerusalem's role as God's chosen dwelling place and further eclipsing the memory of Shiloh.
This passage directly echoes the consequence of Shiloh's rejection, warning the people that God's house in Jerusalem could also be abandoned if they continued in disobedience.
Genesis 49:10This verse speaks of the scepter not departing from Judah, which the commentary notes as the divine plan that eventually superseded Ephraim's prominence and led to God choosing Zion in Judah.
1 Samuel 4:10-11This account describes the immediate aftermath of the Ark of the Covenant being captured by the Philistines, signifying the abandonment of Shiloh and the end of Ephraim's spiritual leadership.
1 Chronicles 21:1-2This passage describes David's census, which led to God choosing a new site for worship on Mount Moriah, ultimately establishing Jerusalem as the center, thus confirming the rejection of the earlier Ephraimite location.
Psalm 132:13-14This psalm speaks of God's desire to dwell in Zion and choose it for His dwelling place, directly paralleling the Psalmist's point in Psalm 78 about God's definitive choice of Zion over Shiloh.
clarkePsalms 78:67: "Moreover he refused the tabernacle of Joseph, and chose not the tribe of Ephraim:"
He refused the tabernacle of Joseph - See the note on Psalm 78:60 (note).
pulpitPsalms 78:67: "Moreover he refused the tabernacle of Joseph, and chose not the tribe of Ephraim:"
Verse 67. - Moreover he refused the tabernacle of Joseph. The "tabernacle of Joseph" is the sanctuary at Shiloh, which was north of Bethel, and thus within the limits of the tribe of Ephraim. When a permanent site was to be assigned to the tabernacle and the ark, God did not choose for them the position of Shiloh, but that of Jerusalem. And chose not the tribe of Ephraim. Ephraim had enjoyed the pr…
The verse highlights not just a change in location, but a divine shift in emphasis from the house of Joseph (represented by Ephraim and Shiloh) to the tribe of Judah and Mount Zion. This signifies God’s deliberate choice to establish His dwelling place elsewhere, marking a pivotal moment where leadership and sacred prominence moved from the Ephraimites to the lineage that would produce David.
This passage marks a pivotal shift in God's dwelling place among His people, moving away from the territory of Joseph's descendants, specifically the tribe of Ephraim where the tabernacle was located at Shiloh. Instead, God chose the tribe of Judah and Mount Zion, signifying a new center for worship and a change in leadership, ultimately leading to the selection of David as king. This reorientation reflects Israel's past unfaithfulness and God's sovereign choice to establish His presence and kingdom in a new way.
This passage marks a pivotal shift in God's dwelling place among His people, moving away from the territory of Joseph's descendants, specifically the tribe of Ephraim where the tabernacle was located at Shiloh. Instead, God chose the tribe of Judah and Mount Zion, signifying a new center for worship and a change in leadership, ultimately leading to the selection of David as king. This reorientation reflects Israel's past unfaithfulness and God's sovereign choice to establish His presence and kingdom in a new way.
"He rejected the tent of Joseph; he did not choose the tribe of Ephraim, but he chose the tribe of Judah, Mount Zion, which he loves." — The verse highlights not just a change in location, but a divine shift in emphasis from the house of Joseph (represented by Ephraim and Shiloh) to the tribe of Judah and Mount Zion. This signifies Go…
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Last reviewed October 2026
