Mount Carmel

Contributed by Rabbi Geoffrey W. Dennis

A mountain on the coast of north Israel, where the city of Haifa now exists. In biblical times Carmel was evidently regarded as a holy high place to YHWH. Elijah fought his religio-magical duel with the prophets of Baal and Asherah there,¹ winning the argument when a miraculous fire from heaven consumed his offering. It was while hiding in caves there he was able to destroy troops of King Ahab, also by means of a flame strike.

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