The American Cyclopædia (1879)/Ebenezer

EBENEZER, the name of a place where the Israelites were defeated when the ark of God was taken (1 Sam. iv. 1), and also of a memorial stone or monument set up by Samuel to commemorate their victory over the Philistines at Mizpeh, when God interposed for their deliverance (1 Sam. vii. 5-12). The compound word signifies the stone of help. The monument was erected by the prophet, saying, “Hitherto hath the Lord helped us.” The name of the place, though mentioned first, was probably of later use, being borrowed from that of the monument.