EBENEZER, EBEN-EZER ĕb’ ə nē’ zər (אֶ֣בֶן הָעֵ֔זֶר; LXX ̓Αβενεζερ, stone of help). 1. The scene of two defeats of the Israelites by the Philistines. In the first battle, the Israelites lost 4,000 men and in the second, 30,000. In the second battle, the Ark of the Covenant was taken by the Philistines; also Eli’s sons, Hophni and Phinehas, were killed (1 Sam 4:1-11). The precise location of Ebenezer is uncertain. It was near Aphek, but this site has not been identified with certainty either. Some scholars believe the site of Ebenezer may be Majdel Yaba, NE of Jaffa.

2. Ebenezer also was the name given by Samuel to the stone set up by him between Mizpah and Jeshanah to commemorate an Israelite victory over the Philistines (1 Sam 7:12).