Psalms 78:67-71
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. He built his sanctuary like the high heavens, like the earth, which he has founded forever. He chose David his servant and took him from the sheepfolds; from following the nursing ewes he brought him to shepherd Jacob his people, Israel his inheritance.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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This verse highlights a crucial shift: God didn't just move the Tabernacle; He deliberately rejected the location associated with Joseph and Ephraim. This wasn't a neutral change, but a divine pronouncement that the prominent place of worship, and therefore spiritual leadership, would no longer reside with them, signaling a move towards Judah and Zion.
This psalm recounts God's enduring faithfulness to Israel despite their persistent unfaithfulness, tracing their history from the Exodus to the establishment of David's kingship. Following a period of immense suffering and the Philistines' capture of the Ark, God's judgment and subsequent deliverance are detailed. This verse marks a pivotal shift: God chooses Judah and Zion over Joseph's tribe and Shiloh as the new, permanent dwelling place for His presence, signifying a transfer of divine favor and a new era.
Why would God ever 'refuse' a place or a people He once chose? This verse reveals a profound truth about God's dynamic faithfulness and His sovereign purpose in shifting His presence.
The Psalmist Asaph is looking back at Israel's history, highlighting moments where God made definitive choices about where His presence would dwell. In Psalm 78:67, we see God 'refusing' the 'tabernacle of Joseph' and not choosing the tribe of Ephraim. This isn't about God abandoning His people, but about Him redirecting His focal point.
The Shiloh Sanctuary
The 'tabernacle of Joseph' refers to the sanctuary at Shiloh, which was located within the territory of the tribe of Ephraim. For a long time, Shiloh was the central place of worship, where the Ark of the Covenant was housed. It held immense significance for the tribes descended from Joseph (Ephraim and Manasseh).
A New Dwelling Place
However, the Ark was eventually captured by the Philistines. When it was returned, it didn't go back to Shiloh. Instead, it was eventually brought to Jerusalem, to Mount Zion, which was in the territory of the tribe of Judah. This shift wasn't arbitrary; it was God's intentional choice. Asaph points this out to remind the people that God's plans are not bound by our preferences or historical precedents. He is free to move and establish His presence where He wills, often to usher in a new phase of His redemptive work.
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From the nomadic tent to a permanent city, the 'place' where God met His people changed. What does this movement reveal about His overarching plan?
This verse, set within the broader context of Psalm 78, highlights a pivotal moment in Israel's history: the transition of the center of God's worship from Shiloh in the territory of Ephraim to Zion in the territory of Judah.
From Ephraim to Judah
For generations, Shiloh was the spiritual heart of Israel, nestled within the influential tribe of Ephraim. However, as the psalm recounts, God 'rejected' this place and 'chose not' Ephraim as the perpetual location for His dwelling. This was not a rejection of the people themselves, but a redirection of the physical manifestation of His presence.
God's Sovereign Plan
This shift paved the way for God's choice of Zion and, ultimately, for the establishment of Jerusalem as the eternal city of David and the site of the Temple. It points to a developing plan where God is not merely reacting to human faithfulness or unfaithfulness, but is actively sovereignly guiding history toward His ultimate redemptive purposes. The choice of Judah and Zion, and later David, signifies a move towards a more unified and permanent dwelling place for God among His people, culminating in the reign of the promised King.
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.
miqdash · Hebrew Noun
The holy place where God dwells among His people. It refers to the Tabernacle or Temple, symbolizing God's presence, holiness, and the necessity of sacrifice and worship.
ebed · Hebrew Noun
One who serves a master or superior. In a theological context, a servant of God is one who submits fully to the divine will, living in obedience and fulfilling the tasks assigned by the Lord.
ra'ah · Hebrew Verb
The action of caring for, leading, protecting, and feeding a flock of animals, used metaphorically in Scripture to describe the role of God or human leaders (kings/prophets) in relation to His people.
Ya'aqov · Hebrew Proper Noun
The personal name given to the patriarch; it refers to the covenant people of God, often highlighting their human origin and historical struggles.
Yisra'el · Hebrew Proper Noun
The name given to Jacob by God; it refers to the nation as God's chosen people, emphasizing their spiritual identity and relationship with the Almighty.
nachalah · Hebrew Noun
That which is received as a possession, often referring to God's relationship with His people; it denotes something special, precious, and set apart for Him.
This verse highlights a pivotal moment in Israel's history when God's chosen dwelling place, and by extension the primary tribe associated with it, shifted from Shiloh in Ephraim to Jerusalem in Judah. This change signified a divine reordering of leadership and favor, moving from the powerful Joseph tribes to the lineage of David.
c. 1100 BC— this verse
Philistines Destroy Shiloh
The Philistines, after defeating the Israelites in battle, captured the Ark of the Covenant and destroyed the sanctuary at Shiloh, where it had resided. This marked the end of Shiloh's prominence as the central place of worship.
c. 1050 BC
Ark Resides in Kiriath-jearim
After being returned by the Philistines, the Ark of the Covenant was housed in Kiriath-jearim for about 20 years, no longer in the territory of Ephraim but in Judah.
c. 1043 BC
David Becomes King of Judah
David, from the tribe of Judah, was initially made king only over the southern tribes. This began the shift of national prominence from the northern tribes, particularly Ephraim, to Judah.
c. 1040 BC
David Brings Ark to Jerusalem
King David triumphantly brought the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem, establishing it as the new spiritual and political center of Israel. This cemented Jerusalem's (and thus Judah's) status over Shiloh (and Ephraim).
c. 1000 BC
David Reigns Over All Israel
David united all twelve tribes under his rule, with Jerusalem as the capital. This period saw the definitive transfer of leadership and divine favor from the descendants of Joseph (especially Ephraim) to the line of David in Judah.
This passage parallels the rejection of Shiloh by God with the warning that the Temple in Jerusalem could also be abandoned, showing the historical pattern of God's judgment on His chosen places when His people stray.
Genesis 49:10This foundational promise to Judah, that the scepter would not depart from it, is fulfilled in God's choice of Judah over Ephraim, highlighting a long-standing divine plan for the tribe's prominence.
1 Samuel 4:10-11This narrative vividly describes the fall of Shiloh and the capture of the Ark by the Philistines, illustrating the practical consequence of God 'rejecting' the sanctuary located within Ephraim's territory.
2 Samuel 5:6-7This passage directly shows the transition of power and worship from the earlier tribal centers to Jerusalem and the tribe of Judah, marked by David taking Zion and declaring that even the 'blind and lame' could defend it, signifying a new era away from Ephraim.
Psalm 78:56-59This section of the same psalm speaks of Israel's repeated idolatry and provocation of God, setting the context for why God would reject the prominent tribe of Ephraim, which had become a center of religious disaffection.
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…
This verse highlights a crucial shift: God didn't just move the Tabernacle; He deliberately rejected the location associated with Joseph and Ephraim. This wasn't a neutral change, but a divine pronouncement that the prominent place of worship, and therefore spiritual leadership, would no longer reside with them, signaling a move towards Judah and Zion.
This psalm recounts God's enduring faithfulness to Israel despite their persistent unfaithfulness, tracing their history from the Exodus to the establishment of David's kingship. Following a period of immense suffering and the Philistines' capture of the Ark, God's judgment and subsequent deliverance are detailed. This verse marks a pivotal shift: God chooses Judah and Zion over Joseph's tribe and Shiloh as the new, permanent dwelling place for His presence, signifying a transfer of divine favor and a new era.
This psalm recounts God's enduring faithfulness to Israel despite their persistent unfaithfulness, tracing their history from the Exodus to the establishment of David's kingship. Following a period of immense suffering and the Philistines' capture of the Ark, God's judgment and subsequent deliverance are detailed. This verse marks a pivotal shift: God chooses Judah and Zion over Joseph's tribe and Shiloh as the new, permanent dwelling place for His presence, signifying a transfer of divine favor and a new era.
"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. He built his sanctuary like the high heavens, like the earth, which he has founded…" — This verse highlights a crucial shift: God didn't just move the Tabernacle; He deliberately rejected the location associated with Joseph and Ephraim. This wasn't a neutral change, but a divine pron…
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