("stone of help")
When Israel "went out to battle against the Philistines" in the time of Samuel, they encamped beside Ebenezer (I Sam 4:1). They were defeated (I Sam 4:2) and sent for the ark in Shiloh to save themselves (I Sam 4:4). The ark was taken into the camp and when the Philistines attacked, it fell into their hands (I Sam 4:11): "Then the Philistines took the ark of God and brought it from Ebenezer to Ashdod" (I Sam 5:1). Also the site where the men of Israel led by Samuel defeated the Philistines (I Sam 7:9-11). Samuel set up a victory stone "and called its name Ebenezer, saying, 'Thus far the Lord has helped us' " (I Sam 7:12). The stone was between Mizpah and Shen. The site has been recently located at a place called Izbet Zarta in the vicinity of Aphek, where excavations have revealed an Early Iron Age settlement with silos. In the vicinity of the site there were wine presses.
Concordance
I Sam 4:1; 5:2; 7:12
