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, &ldquo;Hitherto hath the Lord helped us.&rdquo; The name of the place, though mentioned first, was probably of later use, being borrowed from that of the monument.