The Mountain range of Carmel
Mount Carmel refers to a 38.6 km long and about 8 km wide coastal mountain range in northern Israel that stretches from the Mediterranean Sea all the way to Jenin in the southeast. The Carmel Mountain Range holds a strategic position between the sea and the Jezreel Valley to the northeast acting as a natural barrier between the coastal plain and the valley.
Mt. Carmel is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and holds several landmarks, points of interest, and communities. The most well-known section of the mount is in the coastal city of Haifa. The name “Carmel” comes from the Hebrew word for “freshly planted”. The mount has many caves, volcanic rocks, and rich vegetation on the slopes including forests of pine, olive, laurel, and oak trees.
it will burst into bloom; it will rejoice greatly and shout for joy The glory of Lebanon will be given to it, the splendor of Carmel and Sharon; they will see the glory of the Lord, the splendor of our God. (Isaiah 35:2)
Elijah on Mount Carmel
Elijah’s challenge came during a period after successive kings “did evil in the sight of the Lord” (1 Kings 16:30). King Ahab had married the Phoenician princess Jezebel. She turned his allegiance from the God of Israel to her god Baal and had the God of Israel’s prophets slaughtered.So Elijah called on Ahab to assemble the 450 priests of Baal on Mount Carmel. There he challenged the priests to call on fire from Baal to light a sacrifice. As the book of 1 Kings relates, Baal failed to respond to the priests’ cries. Then Elijah rebuilt the ruined altar of the Lord and offered a sacrifice. Immediately fire from heaven consumed the offering, even though it had been soaked in water.
“When Ahab saw Elijah, Ahab said to him, “Is it you, you troubler of Israel?” And he answered, “I have not troubled Israel, but you have, and your father’s house, because you have abandoned the commandments of the LORD and followed the Baals. Now therefore send and gather all Israel to me at Mount Carmel, and the 450 prophets of Baal and the 400 prophets of Asherah, who eat at Jezebel’s table.” So Ahab sent to all the people of Israel and gathered the prophets together at Mount Carmel. And Elijah came near to all the people and said, “How long will you go limping between two different opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him.” And the people did not answer him a word (1 Kings 18:17-21 ESV).