Shiloh was a city in the tribe of Ephraim, about twelve miles northeast of Bethel, and about twelve miles south of Sychar, the location of Jacob's well. When the Israelites entered the Promised Land under Joshua, they set up the Tabernacle at Shiloh, thus making this their capital until the time of the Judges, about 400 years later. In a battle with the Philistines, the Ark of the Covenant was taken from the Tabernacle here to the battlefield, where the Philistines captured it. By the time of Jeremiah, Shiloh was in ruins (Jeremiah 7: 12-14). A watchtower near ancient Shiloh, where vineyard keepers guarded their crop near harvest time.