Ebenezer

Ebenezer was a stone memorial set up by Samuel to commemorate Israel's victory over the Philistines (1Sa.4.1; 5:1; 7:12).

Ebenezer, meaning "stone of help," was a memorial stone set up by the prophet Samuel to commemorate a significant victory of the Israelites over the Philistines. The stone was erected between Mizpah and Shen, in the territory of Israel. Prior to this victory, the Israelites had suffered a devastating defeat at the hands of the Philistines, who captured the Ark of the Covenant (1Sa.4.1; 5:1). The Ark was eventually returned, and Samuel led the Israelites in a ceremony of repentance at Mizpah. When the Philistines attacked again, God intervened on behalf of Israel, causing confusion among the Philistines and leading to their defeat (1Sa.7.7-11). To commemorate this divine intervention and victory, Samuel set up the stone and named it Ebenezer, acknowledging God's help and deliverance (1Sa.7.12). The stone served as a reminder to the Israelites of God's faithfulness and power in their battles against their enemies.

Stone of help, the memorial stone set up by Samuel to commemorate the divine assistance to Israel in their great battle against the Philistines, whom they totally routed (1 Sam. 7:7-12) at Aphek, in the neighbourhood of Mizpeh, in Benjamin, near the western entrance of the pass of Beth-horon. On this very battle-field, twenty years before, the Philistines routed the Israelites, “and slew of the army in the field about four thousand men” (4:1, 2; here, and at 5:1, called “Eben-ezer” by anticipation). In this extremity the Israelites fetched the ark out of Shiloh and carried it into their camp. The Philistines a second time immediately attacked them, and smote them with a very great slaughter, “for there fell of Israel thirty thousand footmen. And the ark of God was taken” (1 Sam. 4:10). And now in the same place the Philistines are vanquished, and the memorial stone is erected by Samuel (q.v.). The spot where the stone was erected was somewhere “between Mizpeh and Shen.” Some have identified it with the modern Beit Iksa, a conspicuous and prominent position, apparently answering all the necessary conditions; others with Dier Aban, 3 miles east of ‘Ain Shems.