1 Samuel 4-7 is held together by the story of the two Ebenezers. Ebenezer means "stone of help" – as Samuel will say in chapter 7, verse 12 – "Till now the LORD has helped us."
Israel had encamped at the first Ebenezer in chapter 4. The first Ebenezer was in the coastal plain near the foothills of Ephraim. That was the place where Israel was defeated, where the ark was captured, and where the two sons of Eli were killed.
That does not sound much like a stone of help!
And in chapter 7, Samuel will set up a stone in Benjamin, near Mizpah, and call its name "Ebenezer." "stone of help" "Till now the LORD has helped us."
Samuel is teaching his people that God's triumph comes through our weakness. The LORD brought judgment upon his priests and upon his people at Ebenezer.
What kind of help is that!?? If God helps us by turning us over to our foes – what kind of help is that?!
But his purpose is to bring Israel through suffering to glory...
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