Mount Carmel in the Torah
הר הכרמל
The dramatic stage for one of the Tanakh's most spectacular confrontations — Elijah's showdown with 450 prophets of Baal. On this mountain overlooking the Mediterranean, Elijah challenged the false prophets, and fire from heaven consumed his offering. The name Carmel means 'vineyard of God,' and the prophets use it as a symbol of beauty and abundance.
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Key Verses
6 selected passages mentioning Mount Carmel
Elijah challenges the prophets of Baal to gather at Mount Carmel
וְעַתָּ֗ה שְׁלַ֨ח קְבֹ֥ץ אֵלַ֛י אֶת־כׇּל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל אֶל־הַ֣ר הַכַּרְמֶ֑ל וְאֶת־נְבִיאֵ֨י הַבַּ֜עַל אַרְבַּ֧ע מֵא֣וֹת וַחֲמִשִּׁ֗ים וּנְבִיאֵ֤י הָאֲשֵׁרָה֙ אַרְבַּ֣ע מֵא֔וֹת אֹכְלֵ֖י שֻׁלְחַ֥ן אִיזָֽבֶל׃
Now summon all Israel to join me at Mount Carmel, together with the four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal and the four hundred prophets of Asherah, who eat at Jezebel’s table.”bwho eat at Jezebel’s table I.e., who are maintained by Jezebel.
The fire of the Lord falls and consumes the offering
וַתִּפֹּ֣ל אֵשׁ־יְהֹוָ֗ה וַתֹּ֤אכַל אֶת־הָעֹלָה֙ וְאֶת־הָֽעֵצִ֔ים וְאֶת־הָאֲבָנִ֖ים וְאֶת־הֶֽעָפָ֑ר וְאֶת־הַמַּ֥יִם אֲשֶׁר־בַּתְּעָלָ֖ה לִחֵֽכָה׃
Then fire from GOD descended and consumed the burnt offering, the wood, the stones, and the earth; and it licked up the water that was in the trench.
Elijah goes up to the top of Carmel and prays for rain
וַיַּעֲלֶ֥ה אַחְאָ֖ב לֶאֱכֹ֣ל וְלִשְׁתּ֑וֹת וְאֵ֨לִיָּ֜הוּ עָלָ֨ה אֶל־רֹ֤אשׁ הַכַּרְמֶל֙ וַיִּגְהַ֣ר אַ֔רְצָה וַיָּ֥שֶׂם פָּנָ֖יו בֵּ֥ין בִּרְכָּֽו׃
and Ahab went up to eat and drink. Elijah meanwhile climbed to the top of Mount Carmel, crouched on the ground, and put his face between his knees.
Elisha goes to Mount Carmel
וַיֵּ֥לֶךְ מִשָּׁ֖ם אֶל־הַ֣ר הַכַּרְמֶ֑ל וּמִשָּׁ֖ם שָׁ֥ב שֹׁמְרֽוֹן׃ {פ}
He went on from there to Mount Carmel, and from there he returned to Samaria.
It shall blossom abundantly — the glory of Lebanon, the majesty of Carmel
פָּרֹ֨חַ תִּפְרַ֜ח וְתָגֵ֗ל אַ֚ף גִּילַ֣ת וְרַנֵּ֔ן כְּב֤וֹד הַלְּבָנוֹן֙ נִתַּן־לָ֔הּ הֲדַ֥ר הַכַּרְמֶ֖ל וְהַשָּׁר֑וֹן הֵ֛מָּה יִרְא֥וּ כְבוֹד־יְהֹוָ֖ה הֲדַ֥ר אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ׃ {פ}
It shall blossom abundantly,It shall also exult and shout.It shall receive the glory of Lebanon,The splendor of Carmel and Sharon.They shall behold the glory of GOD,The splendor of our God.
Your head crowns you like Carmel
רֹאשֵׁ֤ךְ עָלַ֙יִךְ֙ כַּכַּרְמֶ֔ל וְדַלַּ֥ת רֹאשֵׁ֖ךְ כָּאַרְגָּמָ֑ן מֶ֖לֶךְ אָס֥וּר בָּרְהָטִֽים׃
The head upon you is like crimson wool,bcrimson wool So Ibn Janah and Ibn Ezra, taking karmel as a by-form of karmil: cf. 2 Chron. 2.6, 13; 3.14. The locks of your head are like purple—A king is held captive in the tresses.cA king is held captive in the tresses Meaning of Heb. uncertain.
21 more verses mention Mount Carmel across the Tanakh
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