Samuel's victory at Mizpah: Ebenezer
Twenty years after the ark's return, Israel put away its idols at Samuel's call; when the Philistines attacked at Mizpah, God thundered and routed them.
Then Samuel took a stone and set it between Mizpah and Shen, and called its name Ebenezer, saying, “Yahweh helped us until now.”
1 Samuel 7:12 (World English Bible)
Samuel gathered Israel at Mizpah to fast and confess. The Philistines saw the gathering as a threat and attacked, but Yahweh thundered against them, throwing them into confusion. Samuel set up a memorial stone and named it Ebenezer, “stone of help.”
Samuel went on judging Israel all his life, traveling a yearly circuit to Bethel, Gilgal, and Mizpah.
Places
BethelGibeahGathGilgalMizpahEkronKiriath-jearimRamahBeth-carEbenezerShen
Dating notes
Twenty years after the ark came to Kiriath Jearim (1 Samuel 7:2). Ussher, 1096 BC, the year before Saul was made king.