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eb-en-ē´zẽr (×בן חעזר, 'ebhen haÌ„-‛ezer, “stone of the helpâ€; ἈβενεÌζεÏ, AbeneÌzer):
(1) Here Israel was defeated by the Philistines, 4,000 men falling in the battle (). It appears also to have been the scene of the disaster when the ark of God was captured (). The place is not identified. It was over against Aphek; but this site is also unknown (compare ). Eusebius, Onomasticon places it between Jerusalem and Ascalon, in the neighborhood of Beth-shemesh. Conder suggests Deir Abān, fully 2 miles East of ‛Ain Shems (PEF, III, 24).
(2) A stone set up by Samuel to perpetuate the memory of the signal victory granted to Israel over the Philistines in answer to his prayer (). It stood between Mizpeh and Shen. The latter is probably identical with ‛Ain Sinia, North of Bethel. This defines the district in which it may be found; but no identification is yet possible.