Carmel
“Park, garden, or fruitful place”
Summary
A prominent mountain promontory in Palestine famous for its beauty and as the scene of Elijah's contest with the prophets of Baal; also a city in Judah associated with Nabal and Abigail.
☩The Mountain
Mount Carmel is a prominent headland in lower Palestine, bounding the southern edge of the Bay of Acre and stretching southeast for about twelve miles. The name means 'park' or 'garden,' reflecting its verdant fertility. Rising to about 1,700 feet at its highest point, it is the only bold headland of Palestine. The mountain was renowned for its beauty, luxuriant vegetation, and flowering shrubs—hence Isaiah's reference to 'the excellency of Carmel' (Isaiah 35:2).
☩Elijah's Contest
Carmel is most famous as the scene where Elijah confronted the 450 prophets of Baal and brought Israel back to the worship of Jehovah. At a place still called el-Maharrakah ('the place of burning'), Elijah repaired an ancient altar of the Lord that had been thrown down, and called down fire from heaven to consume his sacrifice. Afterward, he slew the prophets of Baal at the brook Kishon below. From the summit, Elijah later saw the little cloud 'like a man's hand' rising from the sea, heralding the end of the drought.
☩Elisha's Connection
After Elijah's ascension, Elisha repaired to Mount Carmel (2 Kings 2:25). It was customary in Israel to visit the prophets there on new moons and sabbaths (2 Kings 4:23). The Shunammite woman traveled to Carmel to seek Elisha when her son died, and he returned with her to restore the child to life. The mountain remained a place of prophetic residence and religious significance.
☩The City of Carmel
A city in the hill country of Judah, about ten miles southeast of Hebron, distinct from the mountain. It was the residence of Nabal, the churlish flockmaster whose widow Abigail became David's wife (1 Samuel 25). Saul set up a memorial there after his victory over Amalek (1 Samuel 15:12). King Uzziah had vineyards there (2 Chronicles 26:10). The site is identified with the modern el-Kurmul, where ruins of a 12th-century tower remain.
Related Verses26 mentions
References
- 1.John McClintock and James Strong, "Carmel," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. II (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 2.James Orr (ed.), "Carmel," in International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, vol. I (Howard-Severance Company, 1915).
- 3.George Morrish, "Carmel," in Morrish's Concise Bible Dictionary (George Morrish, 1898).
- 4.Andrew Robert Fausset, "Carmel," in The Englishman's Critical and Expository Bible Cyclopædia (Hodder & Stoughton, 1878).