Eben-Ezer

Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible

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 (  1 Samuel 4:1;   1 Samuel 5:1 ). 2. The name of the stone erected to commemorate an equally glorious victory (  1 Samuel 7:12 ). The precise situation is uncertain, but if Shen (  1 Samuel 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.

Fausset's Bible Dictionary

("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, Palestine Exploration).

People's Dictionary of the Bible

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.  1 Samuel 7:12. Its position is carefully defined as between Mizpeh and Shen.

Smith's Bible Dictionary

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 .  1 Samuel 7:12. Its position is carefully defined as between Mizpeh and Shen.

Easton's Bible Dictionary

 1 Samuel 7:7-12 1 Samuel 4:10

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

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 ( 1 Samuel 4:1 ). It appears also to have been the scene of the disaster when the ark of God was captured ( 1 Samuel 4:3 ). The place is not identified. It was over against Aphek; but this site is also unknown (compare  Joshua 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 ( 1 Samuel 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.

Kitto's Popular Cyclopedia of Biblial Literature

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 .