Eben-Ezer

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EBEN-EZER

EBEN-EZER (Heb. אֶבֶן הָעֶזֶר). (1) Site of the Israelite camp facing the Philistine army at *Aphek before the battle in which the Philistines captured the Ark of the Covenant (i Sam. 4:1). It is generally identified with Majdal Yābā, which was still known in the first century c.e. as Migdal Aphek. (2) Name of the stone set up as a victory monument by Samuel between *Mizpah and Shen after the Israelites had "pursued the Philistines and smote them, until they came under Beth-Car" (i Sam. 7:11–12). Most scholars consider the two Eben-Ezers identical and locate it on the Israelite-Philistine border.

bibliography:

Albright, in: basor, 11 (1923), 7; Abel, Geog, 2 (1938), 309; em, s.v.

[Michael Avi-Yonah]

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