Eben-Ezer

Eben-E´zer (stone of help), the name given to a stone which Samuel set up between Mizpeh and Shen, in witness of the divine assistance obtained against the Philistines (1Sa 7:12).

Eben-e’zer. (stone of help). A stone set up by Samuel, after a single 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.

("the stone of help".) Set up to the Lord by Samuel after Israel’s defeat of the Philistines (1Sa 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, 1Sa 6:14) on which the ark rested after coming from Ekron is now Deir Eban (Ganneau, Palestine Exploration).

Eben-ezer (ĕb’en-ç’zer), stone of help. A stone set up by Samuel after a signal defeat of the Philistines, as a memorial of the "help" received from Jehovah. 1Sa 7:12. Its position is carefully defined as between Mizpeh and Shen.

EBEN-EZER (‘the stone of help’ (LXX [Note: Septuagint.] ‘of the helper’]).—1. The scene of a disastrous battle in which the ark was lost (1Sa 4:1; 1Sa 5:1). 2. The name of the stone erected to commemorate an equally glorious victory (1Sa 7:12). The precise situation is uncertain, but if Shen (1Sa 7:12), i.e. Yeshana (according to LXX [Note: Septuagint.] and Syriac) is the modern ‘Ain Semije a little N. of Bethel, the locality is approximately defined. Samuel s explanatory words should be read thus: ‘This is a witness that Jahweh hath helped us.’

J. Taylor.

eb-en-ē´zẽr (אבן חעזר, ’ebhen hā-‛ezer, “stone of the help”; Ἀβενέζερ, Abenézer):

(1) Here Israel was defeated by the Philistines, 4,000 men falling in the battle (1Sa 4:1). It appears also to have been the scene of the disaster when the ark of God was captured (1Sa 4:3). The place is not identified. It was over against Aphek; but this site is also unknown (compare Jos 12:18). Eusebius, Onomasticon places it between Jerusalem and Ascalon, in the neighborhood of Beth-shemesh. Conder suggests Deir Abān, fully 2 miles East of ‛Ain Shems (PEF, III, 24).

(2) A stone set up by Samuel to perpetuate the memory of the signal victory granted to Israel over the Philistines in answer to his prayer (1Sa 7:12). It stood between Mizpeh and Shen. The latter is probably identical with ‛Ain Sinia, North of Bethel. This defines the district in which it may be found; but no identification is yet possible.