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{{short description|Location in the Books of Samuel}}
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'''Eben-Ezer''' ({{lang-he|אבן העזר}}, ''Even Ha'Ezer'', lit. ''stone of help'') is the name of a location that is mentioned by the [[Books of Samuel]] as the scene of battles between the [[Israelites]] and [[Philistines]]. It is specified as having been less than a day's journey by foot from [[Shiloh (biblical city)|Shiloh]], near [[Aphek (biblical)|Aphek]], in the neighbourhood of [[Mizpah in Benjamin|Mizpah]], near the western entrance of the pass of [[Beth-horon]]. However, its location has not been identified in modern times with much certainty, with some identifying it with [[Beit Iksa]], and others with [[Dayr Aban]].<ref>C.R. Conder, ''Notes from the Memoir'', [[Palestine Exploration Quarterly]], vol. 18, London 1876, p. 149; Conder & Kitchener, ''The Survey of Western Palestine'', vol. iii (Judaea), London 1883, p. 24</ref>
[[File:DuraSyn-NB1-Eben Ezer battle-The Ark.jpg|thumb|Depiction of the Battle of Eben-Ezer from the [[Dura-Europos synagogue]] (pre-244 AD)]]
[[File:Turfmarkt 60, Turfmarkt kerk. Gevelsteen.jpg|thumb|[[Gouda, South Holland|Gouda]], [[Netherlands]]]]
[[File:P1250035.JPG|thumb|Inscription: Eben-Ezer on the {{interlanguage link|Matthaus Frank House|he|בית פרנק}}, today #6 [[Emek Refaim|Emek Refaim Street]] in [[Jerusalem]]]]


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'''Eben-Ezer''' ({{Langx|he|אֶבֶן הָעֵזֶר|’éḇen hā‘ēzer|the stone of help}}) is a location that is mentioned by the [[Books of Samuel]] as the scene of battles between the [[Israelites]] and [[Philistines]]. It is specified as having been less than a [[day's journey]] by foot from [[Shiloh (biblical city)|Shiloh]], near [[Aphek (biblical)|Aphek]], in the neighbourhood of [[Mizpah in Benjamin|Mizpah]], near the western entrance of the pass of [[Bethoron]]. Its location has not been identified in modern times with much certainty, with some identifying it with [[Beit Iksa]], and others with [[Dayr Aban]].<ref>C. R. Conder, "Notes from the Memoir", [[Palestine Exploration Fund#Palestine Exploration Quarterly|''Palestine Exploration Quarterly'']], vol. 18, London 1876, p. 149; Conder & Kitchener, ''The Survey of Western Palestine'', vol. iii (Judaea), London 1883, p. 24</ref>
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== Historical mentions ==


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== Biblical mentions ==
It appears in the Books of Samuel in two narratives:
The placename appears in the Books of Samuel in two narratives:
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*In the first narrative ({{bibleverse|1|Samuel|4:1-11|HE}}), the Philistines defeat the Israelites, even though the Israelites brought the [[Ark of the Covenant]] onto the battlefield in hope of it bringing them a divinely assured victory. As a result of the Philistine victory and the Ark's presence on the battlefield, [[Philistine captivity of the Ark|it was captured by the Philistines]], and not returned until many months later [http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Samuel%206:1-2&version=NIV (1 Samuel 6:1-2)].
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*In the second narrative ({{bibleverse|1|Samuel|7:2-14|HE}}), the Israelites defeat the Philistines, after Samuel has offered a sacrifice. Samuel puts up a stone in memorial and names it ''Eben-Ezer'' (the placename in the previous narrative resulting from this). This monument is referred to in the hymn ''[[Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing]]''.<ref>{{cite web|title=Here I Raise My Ebenezer!|url=http://www.apologeticspress.org/apcontent.aspx?category=11&article=909|publisher=Apologeticspress.org|accessdate=4 April 2012}}</ref>


⚫
* In the first narrative ({{bibleverse|1|Samuel|4:1–11|HE}}), the Philistines defeat the Israelites, even though the Israelites bring the [[Ark of the Covenant]] onto the battlefield in hope of bringing about a divinely assured victory. The victorious Philistines [[Philistine captivity of the Ark|capture the Ark]], and do not return it until many months later [http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Samuel%206:1-2&version=NIV (1 Samuel 6:1–2)].
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== Modern-day placement ==
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* In the second narrative ({{bibleverse|1|Samuel|7:2–14|HE}}), the Israelites defeat the Philistines after Samuel has offered a sacrifice. Samuel puts up a stone in memorial and names it ''Eben-Ezer'' (the placename in the previous narrative resulting from this). The hymn "[[Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing]]" refers to this monument.<ref>{{cite web |title= Here I Raise My Ebenezer! | date=31 December 2002 |url= http://www.apologeticspress.org/apcontent.aspx?category=11&article=909 |publisher=Apologeticspress.org |access-date=4 April 2012}}
</ref>


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== Modern-day placement ==
It is currently accepted among many Israeli archaeologists and historians to place the Eben-Ezer of the first narrative in the immediate neighborhood of modern-day [[Kafr Qasim]], near [[Antipatris]] (ancient city [[Aphek (biblical)|Aphek]]), while the second battle's location is deemed to be insufficiently well-defined in the Biblical text. Other prominent site is called "'''Isbet Sartah'''".<ref>[http://www.biblewalks.com/Sites/EbenEzer.html Location and map of Izbet Zartta or Eben-Ezer]</ref> Some scholars hold that there were more than one Aphek. [[Claude Reignier Conder|C.R. Conder]] identified the Aphek of Eben-Ezer with a ruin (''Khirbet'') some {{convert|6|km|mi|order=flip}} distant from [[Dayr Aban]] (believed to be Eben-Ezer), and known by the name ''Marj al-Fikiya''; the name ''al-Fikiya'' being an Arabic corruption of Aphek.<ref>{{cite journal |last=North |first=Robert |title= Ap(h)eq(a) and ‘Azeqa|journal= Biblica|accessdate=1 January 2016 |volume= 41|issue= 1|pages= 61–63 |url= http://www.jstor.org/stable/42637769|date=1960|registration=yes |via=[[JSTOR]]}}</ref>
It is currently accepted among many Israeli archaeologists and historians to place the Eben-Ezer of the first narrative in the immediate neighborhood of modern-day [[Kafr Qasim]], near [[Antipatris]] (ancient city [[Aphek (biblical)|Aphek]]). In contrast, the second battle's location is deemed insufficiently well-defined in the Biblical text. The other proposed site is called "'''Isbet Sartah'''".<ref>{{cite journal |last=Kochavi |first=Moshe |title=The History and Archeology of Aphek-Antipatris: A Biblical City in the Sharon Plain |journal=Biblical Archaeologist |date=1981 |volume=44 |issue=2 |pages=75–86 |doi=10.2307/3209863 |jstor=3209863 |s2cid=133373668}}</ref><ref>[http://www.biblewalks.com/Sites/EbenEzer.html Location and map of Izbet Zartta or Eben-Ezer]</ref> Some scholars hold that there was more than one Aphek. [[Claude Reignier Conder|C. R. Conder]] identified the Aphek of Eben-Ezer<ref>The account in 1 Samuel 4:1 of the battle at Aphek and Eben-Ezer</ref> with a [[khirbet]] "ruin" some {{convert|6|km|mi|order=flip}} distant from [[Dayr Aban]] (believed to be Eben-Ezer), and known by the name ''Marj al-Fikiya''; the name ''al-Fikiya'' being an Arabic etymological variant of Aphek.<ref>{{cite journal |last=North |first=Robert |title= Ap(h)eq(a) and 'Azeqa |journal=Biblica |volume=41 |issue= 1 |pages=61–63 |jstor=42637769 |date=1960}}</ref> [[Eusebius]], when writing about Eben-Ezer in his ''Onomasticon'', says that it is "the place from which the Gentiles seized the Ark, between Jerusalem and Ascalon, near the village of Bethsamys (Beit Shemesh)",<ref>''[https://archive.org/details/p1eusebiuswer03euse/page/n36/mode/1up Eusebius Werke]'', [[Erich Klostermann]] (ed.), 1904, Leipzig, p. 33,24.</ref> a locale that corresponds with Conder's identification. The same site, near Beth Shemesh, has also been identified by [[Epiphanius of Salamis]] as Eben-Ezer.<ref>''Epiphanius' Treatise on Weights and Measures - The Syriac Version'' (ed. James Elmer Dean), University of Chicago Press 1935, p. 73 (§ 68)</ref>


== See also ==
== See also ==
*[[Song of Moses]]
* [[Ebenezer (given name)]]
* [[Song of Moses]]


== References ==
== References ==
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== External links ==
== External links ==
{{Commons category|Eben Ezer churches in England}}
* {{Cite AmCyc|wstitle=Ebenezer |short=x}}
* {{Cite AmCyc|wstitle=Ebenezer |short=x}}
* {{Cite Collier's|wstitle=Ebenezer |short=x}}
* {{Cite Collier's|wstitle=Ebenezer |short=x}}


{{Ark of the Covenant}}
{{Ark of the Covenant}}
{{Sites of the Israelite Settlement}}
{{Authority control}}


[[Category:Hebrew Bible places]]
[[Category:Hebrew Bible places]]

Latest revision as of 05:30, 25 October 2024

Depiction of the Battle of Eben-Ezer from the Dura-Europos synagogue (pre-244 AD)
Gouda, Netherlands
Inscription: Eben-Ezer on the Matthaus Frank House [he], today #6 Emek Refaim Street in Jerusalem

Eben-Ezer (Hebrew: אֶבֶן הָעֵזֶר, romanized: ’éḇen hā‘ēzer, lit. 'the stone of help') is a location that is mentioned by the Books of Samuel as the scene of battles between the Israelites and Philistines. It is specified as having been less than a day's journey by foot from Shiloh, near Aphek, in the neighbourhood of Mizpah, near the western entrance of the pass of Bethoron. Its location has not been identified in modern times with much certainty, with some identifying it with Beit Iksa, and others with Dayr Aban.[1]

Biblical mentions

[edit]

The placename appears in the Books of Samuel in two narratives:

  • In the first narrative (1 Samuel 4:1–11), the Philistines defeat the Israelites, even though the Israelites bring the Ark of the Covenant onto the battlefield in hope of bringing about a divinely assured victory. The victorious Philistines capture the Ark, and do not return it until many months later (1 Samuel 6:1–2).
  • In the second narrative (1 Samuel 7:2–14), the Israelites defeat the Philistines after Samuel has offered a sacrifice. Samuel puts up a stone in memorial and names it Eben-Ezer (the placename in the previous narrative resulting from this). The hymn "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing" refers to this monument.[2]

Modern-day placement

[edit]

It is currently accepted among many Israeli archaeologists and historians to place the Eben-Ezer of the first narrative in the immediate neighborhood of modern-day Kafr Qasim, near Antipatris (ancient city Aphek). In contrast, the second battle's location is deemed insufficiently well-defined in the Biblical text. The other proposed site is called "Isbet Sartah".[3][4] Some scholars hold that there was more than one Aphek. C. R. Conder identified the Aphek of Eben-Ezer[5] with a khirbet "ruin" some 3.7 miles (6 km) distant from Dayr Aban (believed to be Eben-Ezer), and known by the name Marj al-Fikiya; the name al-Fikiya being an Arabic etymological variant of Aphek.[6] Eusebius, when writing about Eben-Ezer in his Onomasticon, says that it is "the place from which the Gentiles seized the Ark, between Jerusalem and Ascalon, near the village of Bethsamys (Beit Shemesh)",[7] a locale that corresponds with Conder's identification. The same site, near Beth Shemesh, has also been identified by Epiphanius of Salamis as Eben-Ezer.[8]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ C. R. Conder, "Notes from the Memoir", Palestine Exploration Quarterly, vol. 18, London 1876, p. 149; Conder & Kitchener, The Survey of Western Palestine, vol. iii (Judaea), London 1883, p. 24
  2. ^ "Here I Raise My Ebenezer!". Apologeticspress.org. 31 December 2002. Retrieved 4 April 2012.
  3. ^ Kochavi, Moshe (1981). "The History and Archeology of Aphek-Antipatris: A Biblical City in the Sharon Plain". Biblical Archaeologist. 44 (2): 75–86. doi:10.2307/3209863. JSTOR 3209863. S2CID 133373668.
  4. ^ Location and map of Izbet Zartta or Eben-Ezer
  5. ^ The account in 1 Samuel 4:1 of the battle at Aphek and Eben-Ezer
  6. ^ North, Robert (1960). "Ap(h)eq(a) and 'Azeqa". Biblica. 41 (1): 61–63. JSTOR 42637769.
  7. ^ Eusebius Werke, Erich Klostermann (ed.), 1904, Leipzig, p. 33,24.
  8. ^ Epiphanius' Treatise on Weights and Measures - The Syriac Version (ed. James Elmer Dean), University of Chicago Press 1935, p. 73 (§ 68)
[edit]
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