eben-ezer Summary and Overview

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.

(stone of help), a stone set up by Samuel after a signal defeat of the Philistines, as a memorial of the "help" received on the occasion from Jehovah. #1Sa 7:12| Its position is carefully defined as between Mizpeh and Shen.

EB'EN-E'ZER (stone of help), set up as a memorial by Samuel, 1 Sam 4:1; Jud 5:1; Num 7:12, between Mizpeh and Shen. The curious fact that the name of this place occurs twice, 1 Sam 4:1; Jud 5:1, before the account of the naming of it, is explained by the familiarity of the place to the writer of the narrative, who of course lived sometime subsequent to the battle. While the Israelites were worshipping God at Mizpeh they received intelligence that the Philistines were approaching them with a formidable army. In this emergency they betook themselves to sacrifice and prayer, and God interposed in a most signal manner for their deliverance. 1 Sam 7:5-12. In commemoration of this event, Samuel erected a monument near the field of battle, and called it "Eben-ezer," or the stone of help, saying, "Hitherto hath Jehovah helped us." Hence it is often said, "Here we will set up our Ebenezer." Conder places Ebenezer at Deir Aban, 3 miles east of Ain Shems. Birch disputes this, and proposes Khurbet ??Sanwil??.

("the stone of help".) Set up to the Lord by Samuel after Israel's defeat of the Philistines (1 Samuel 7:12), "saying, Hitherto hath Jehovah helped us." Between Mizpeh ("the watchtower") and Shen ("the tooth") or crag, a few miles N. of Jerusalem. The "great stone" (Eben, 1 Samuel 6:14) on which the ark rested after coming from Ekron is now Deir Eban (Ganneau, Israel Exploration).