US Amb Huckabee visits Ancient Shiloh in Samaria amid heightened tensions

Reports emerged on Sunday that U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee recently made a low-profile visit to Ancient Shiloh, in the Binyamin region of northern Samaria (located in the West Bank), in what was widely viewed as a show of support for the Jewish communities in the area. The visit was not publicly announced and took place amid heightened tensions surrounding Israeli settlements in the West Bank, following a series of violent incidents that have drawn condemnation from Israeli officials and the international community. Photographs of Huckabee touring the archaeological site surfaced over the weekend.

During the visit last Friday, Huckabee said, "There have been so many attempts over centuries to break Israel and the Jewish people, but God will put it back together, and he is already doing it before our eyes."

Huckabee visited Shiloh to attend the site's annual wine festival. While there, he toured the archaeological excavations, including the area traditionally believed to have been the location of the biblical Tabernacle, and participated in an archaeological sifting activity in which visitors search excavated soil for ancient artifacts.

Shiloh is mentioned several times in the Old Testament and has a central place in the biblical narrative, as highlighted by Joshua 18:1, which say, “Now the whole congregation of the children of Israel assembled together at Shiloh, and set up the tabernacle of meeting there. And the land was subdued before them.”

The site served as Israel's religious center for centuries, housing the Tabernacle and the Ark of the Covenant until the Ark was captured and held by the Philistines for a time, until they returned it to the Israelites. After its return, the Ark remained in Kiriath-Jearim ('City of Forests') for 70 years until King David brought it to Jerusalem, as described in II Samuel 6.

According to biblical tradition, Shiloh served as Israel's spiritual capital for approximately 369 years before the First Temple was built in Jerusalem by King Solomon. This period of history is covered by the Book of Judges and the beginning of I Samuel. The prophet Jeremiah later mentioned Shiloh as a warning that even a place blessed by God could face judgment if the people turned away from Him.

Binyamin Regional Council head and Yesha Council chairman Israel Ganz, who accompanied Huckabee during the visit, told him, “Your presence here, in the heart of the land of our forefathers and amid the exchange of security blows with Iran, is a resounding strategic statement. As our enemies try to erase our existence, the soil in Shiloh cries out the historical truth. This backing sends a clear message to Iran and the entire world: the alliance between the United States and Israel is strong, deep and unshakable.”

Modern archaeological excavations have uncovered evidence spanning multiple historical periods, helping to illuminate the site's ancient past and making Ancient Shiloh one of Israel's most significant archaeological and tourist destinations.