Location
Overview
Mount Carmel is a wooded coastal ridge in northern Israel overlooking the Mediterranean. Its lush slopes made "Carmel" a byword for fruitfulness — and its summit the stage for one of the Bible's great confrontations.
Elijah and the prophets of Baal
Here Elijah summoned Israel and the 450 prophets of Baal to a contest: "The God that answereth by fire, let him be God" (1 Kings 18:24). The prophets of Baal cried in vain; then Elijah's drenched altar was consumed by fire from heaven, and the people fell on their faces crying, "The LORD, he is the God" (1 Kings 18:38–39).
The cloud the size of a hand
After three years of drought, Elijah bowed on Carmel and sent his servant to look toward the sea seven times, until a little cloud "like a man's hand" rose and the heavens grew black with the promised rain (1 Kings 18:42–45).
Elisha and Carmel
The mountain remained associated with the prophets; the Shunammite woman sought Elisha at Carmel when her son died (2 Kings 4:25).
Events Here
Elijah defeats the prophets of Baal; fire falls from heaven
A cloud rises from the sea and the drought breaks
Scripture References
6 verses1 Kings3 verses
1 Kings 18:19
Now therefore send, and gather to me all Israel unto mount Carmel, and the prophets of Baal four hundred and fifty, and the prophets of the groves four hundred, which eat at Jezebel's table.
1 Kings 18:20
So Ahab sent unto all the children of Israel, and gathered the prophets together unto mount Carmel.
1 Kings 18:42
So Ahab went up to eat and to drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; and he cast himself down upon the earth, and put his face between his knees,
2 Kings3 verses
2 Kings 2:25
And he went from thence to mount Carmel, and from thence he returned to Samaria.
2 Kings 4:25
So she went and came unto the man of God to mount Carmel. And it came to pass, when the man of God saw her afar off, that he said to Gehazi his servant, Behold, yonder is that Shunammite:
2 Kings 19:23
By thy messengers thou hast reproached the Lord, and hast said, With the multitude of my chariots I am come up to the height of the mountains, to the sides of Lebanon, and will cut down the tall cedar trees thereof, and the choice fir trees thereof: and I will enter into the lodgings of his borders, and into the forest of his Carmel. By: Heb. By the hand of tall: Heb. tallness, etc of his Carmel: or, and his fruitful field
Archaeology & History
The Carmel range rises above the modern city of Haifa. A traditional site of Elijah's sacrifice, El-Muhraqa ("the place of burning"), stands at its south-eastern end. Its caves and slopes have also yielded some of the most important prehistoric human remains in the world.
People who appear here
Frequently asked about Mount Carmel
Where is Mount Carmel today?
Today, Mount Carmel corresponds to Mount Carmel (Haifa area), Israel.
What does the name Mount Carmel mean?
The name Mount Carmel means “Garden, orchard, fruitful field”.
What happened at Mount Carmel in the Bible?
Key biblical events at Mount Carmel include elijah defeats the prophets of baal; fire falls from heaven; a cloud rises from the sea and the drought breaks.
Where is Mount Carmel first mentioned in the Bible?
Mount Carmel is first mentioned in 1 Kings 18:19.
How often is Mount Carmel mentioned in the Bible?
Mount Carmel is mentioned in 6 verses across 2 books: 1 Kings, 2 Kings.
What happened on Mount Carmel?
Elijah challenged the prophets of Baal to a contest of fire from heaven. The LORD answered by consuming Elijah’s sacrifice, and Israel confessed that the LORD is God.
Where is Mount Carmel?
It is a coastal mountain ridge in northern Israel, overlooking the Mediterranean above the modern city of Haifa.