1 Sam. 7:1-12, The Stone of Help

Here is a Hebrew word you might know just from your reading of the English OT.  In 1 Sam. 7:12, after Israel defeated the Philistines under the judgeship of Samuel, the prophet took a took a stone and set it up between Mispah and Shen, and called its name Ebenezer, saying, ‘Thus far the LORD has helped us.’ “Ebenezer” is a compound word meaning “stone” (eben) of “help” (ezer).  Earlier, in Ex. 18:4, Moses had two sons during the forty years of shepherding for his father-in-law, and called one of them “Eliezer,” saying The God of my father was my help and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh.  Again, we have a compound word: “El” (common word for God) and “ezer” (help).  Let’s meditate on “help.”

“Ezer” is used 22x in 21 verses, and half of those uses are in the Psalms, speaking of the LORD, of course.  But before you get to the Psalms the word gets its definition form two contexts. First, Gen. 2:18,20 where God made a “help” comparable to Adam.  Eve is Adam’s helper, and it is interesting that there is not a “job description” telling her in what way she would help.  The “help” is as deep and wide as the need.  Her primary qualification was that she was “comparable” to Adam.  She was not one of the beasts (a helper could not be found there) but was made in God’s image as was Moses.

The second context relates the word to the LORD.  First, Moses names his son (Ex. 18:4), and then in Deut. 33:7,26,29 Moses blesses the tribes of Israel.  For Judah Moses prays, may You be a help against his enemies.  For all the tribes he says, “There is no one like the God of Jeshurun, Who rides the heavens to help you,
And in His excellency on the clouds. ²⁷ The eternal God is your refuge, And underneath are the everlasting arms; He will thrust out the enemy from before you,
And will say, ‘Destroy!’ And again, Happy are you, O Israel! Who is like you, a people saved by the Lord, The shield of your help And the sword of your majesty! Your enemies shall submit to you, And you shall tread down their high places.”  Moses’ son reminded him of deliverance from Pharaoh’s sword, and then in three passages Israel knows the LORD will help Judah, from whom will come Israel’s ultimate ruler (Gen. 49:10), and will deliver the nation from their enemies. 

For the moment, come back to “Ebenezer.”  That is what Samuel is talking about.  Israel had suffered terrible losses to the Philistines that included the loss of the Ark of the Covenant.  But now, under Samuel’s leadership, the Ark has been returned and is under the care of Eleazer, son of Abinadab (1 Sam. 7:1).  Yes, another name to remind us of God’s help.  Eleazer combines the common title “El” (God) with “ezer” except that it is now past tense: God has helped!  Samuel called the people to repent of their idolatry, they responded in obedience, and the LORD helped as was promised in Deut. 33!  And then Samuel set up “the stone of help.”