Ebenezer means stone of help.1 It is likely that the stone was inscribed with an account of Israel’s victory over the Philistines. Though set up in a different place, there are echoes to the Ebenezer of 1 Samuel 4:1 and 1 Samuel 5:1.2 Similar memorial stones were also erected by Jacob at Bethel (Genesis 28:1–22) and Joshua at Gilgal (Joshua 4:1 – 5:15).3
12 Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen and called its name Ebenezer; for he said, “Till now the LORD has helped us.”