si-lō ́am, sī-lō ́am, si-lō ́a, shē ́la, shi-lō ́a: (1) השּׁלח מי, mē ha-shilōaḥ (shilōaḥ or shillōaḥ is a passive form and means “sent” or “conducted”) “the waters of (the) Shiloah” (Isaiah 8:6). (2) השּׁלח בּרכת, berēkhath ha-shelaḥ, “the pool of (the) Shelah” (the King James Version “Siloah”) (Nehemiah 3:15). (3) τὴν κολυμβήθραν τοῦ (or τὸν) Σιλωάμ, tḗn kolumbḗthran toú (tón) Silōám, “the pool of Siloam” (John 9:7). (4) ὁ πύργος ἐν τῷ Σιλωάμ, ho púrgos en tṓ Silōám, “the tower in Siloam” (Luke 13:4).
Although the name is chiefly used in the Old Testament and Josephus as the name of certain “waters,” the surviving name today, Silwān, is that of a fairly prosperous village which extends along the steep east side of the Kidron valley from a little North of the “Virgin’s Fountain” as far as Bīr Eyyūb. The greater part of the village, the older and better built section, belongs to Moslem fellahin who cultivate the well-watered gardens in the valley and on the hill slopes opposite, but a southern part has recently been built in an extremely primitive manner by Yemen Jews, immigrants from South Arabia, and still farther South, in the commencement of the Wâdy en Nar, is the wretched settlement of the lepers. How long the site of Silwān has been occupied it is impossible to say. The village is mentioned in the 10th century by the Arab writer Muqaddasi. The numerous rock cuttings, steps, houses, caves, etc., some of which have at times served as chapels, show that the site has been much inhabited in the past, and at one period at least by hermits. The mention of “those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and killed them” (Luke 13:4) certainly suggests that there was a settlement there in New Testament times, although some writers consider that this may have reference to some tower on the city walls near the Pool of Siloam.
Opposite to the main part of Silwān is the “Virgin’s Fount,” ancient GIHON (which see), whose waters are practically monopolized by the villagers. It is the waters of this spring which are referred to in Isaiah 8:5-6: “Forasmuch as this people have refused the waters of Shiloah that go softly,... now therefore, behold, the Lord bringeth up upon them the waters of the River.”
To continue reading this Bible article, click here.
Author: International Std. Bible Encyclopedia
Keywords: Siloam, Siloah, Shelah, Shiloah, Pool of Siloam, Waters of Siloam, Tower of Siloam, waters of Shiloah
Source: James Orr (editor), The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, 5 volume set.
Page indexed by: inWORD Bible Software.