Where is Mount Carmel?
Mount Carmel is often described in the Bible as a place of lush vegetation and beauty (Isaiah 35:2, Song of Solomon 7:5). It is located in northern Israel, dividing the plain of Jezreel and Galilee to the east and north, and the plain of Sharon to the south. The city of Haifa is on the northwest slope.
Today, Mount Carmel is a popular hiking and outdoor location, known for its trails and wildflowers. On a pleasant stroll in the area, you might spot oak, spruce and terebinth trees, as well as crocuses, wild daffodils and irises.
Although Mount Carmel is covered with wildflowers and looks idyllic today, the mountain has been a silent witness to many events, not all of them pleasant.
What is so special about Mount Carmel?
Egyptian sources reaching back to 16th century BC, describe Mount Carmel as a “high place”. Most of us today know it as the place where Elijah protested the Baal worshippers and false prophets in defiance of Jezebel and Ahab.
The events that took place on Mount Carmel would become canon in Israel’s history.
1 Kings 17 and 18 tell the account of Elijah’s confrontation with the prophets of Baal and Asherah. The story is an awesome display of God’s might and power over false gods.
Idolatry in the Land
The events that took place on Mount Carmel are one of the most dramatic and noteworthy events in the Bible. In 1 Kings 18:17-18, Elijah has a confrontation with King Ahab and challenges him: my God against yours (not quite in those words).
Elijah had Ahab summon all the prophets of Baal and Asherah – four hundred fifty Baal prophets and four hundred prophets of Asherah.
Baal, was the Syrophoenician god of fertility, rain and harvest whom the Canaanites worshipped. Depictions of Baal often include a man’s body with the head of a bull. Baal worshippers participated in loud rituals, self-injury and sensuality tied to temple prostitution.
Why are we sharing all this? Because Baal worship was the official state worship when Ahab married Jezebel, daughter of a priest-king Ethbaal. This was in direct defiance of God’s injunction to the Kings of Israel to worship the God of Israel only. Jezebel was so passionate about Baal worship and that she actively hunted and pursued other prophets of Israel, or anyone who defied her.
What happened on Mount Carmel?
Elijah told Ahab the rules of the contest: my God against your god. All your prophets, all four hundred and fifty, plus the four hundred prophets of Asherah versus me, the one prophet for the God of Israel.
Once assembled, Elijah said to the crowd, “How long will you hesitate between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.” (1 Kings 18:21) At that point, Elijah let the Baal priests pick their bull to sacrifice, giving them all day to call fire down from heaven.
The Baal prophets cried out all morning, until noon, then after noon they began cutting themselves in desperation, crying out, and carried on this way until evening.
Then, it was time for Elijah to prepare the offering. He asked to cover the wood pieces with water three times, so much so that there was a trench full of water. Finally, Elijah cried out:
“O LORD, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, today let it be known that You are God in Israel and that I am Your servant and I have done all these things at Your word. Answer me, O LORD, answer me, that this people may know that You, O LORD, are God, and that You have turned their heart back again.” (1 Kings 18:36-37)
In that moment, the fire of the Lord fell down and immediately consumed the whole offering – water and all! When the crowds saw this miracle, they fell on their faces and worshipped saying, “The Lord, He is God; the Lord He is God.” (verse 39)
Afterwards, there was an outpouring of rain, another show of strength and might against Baal, who had no power over the rainfall and earth as presumed by many.
Repentance and Revival
We can see in these verses, that the crowds were made to believe by an awesome show of strength and might on Mount Carmel. Or, in New Testament language, by signs and wonders. It is incredible that those who were worshipping Baal and false gods were immediately moved to repentance.
And that’s the beautiful truth. No matter how far gone we might feel about ourselves or for another, there is always a chance to turn around and repent, to turn to God.
What’s fascinating is, in contrast to the signs and wonders of 1 Kings 18, we see a total shift in chapter 19. Elijah just called down fire from heaven and saw God immediately consume the offering which was drenched with water. He led a mass repentance on Mount Carmel and slew the prophets of Baal.
But in chapter 19, Elijah is afraid for his life and on the run.
The Highest Highs and Lowest Lows
Elijah goes into the wilderness and wants to die. (1 Kings 19:4) Taken at face value, we might be surprised that the prophet Elijah, one of Israel’s greatest prophets, seems to have so little faith… or at least, that’s how it appears.
How many times have you experienced signs and wonders in your life, a miracle from God in some capacity? Perhaps the softening of a friend or family member to the gospel, a desperate prayer being answered just at the right time. And then, only to feel distant and cool-hearted after the fact. We get sucked into the daily demands of life or our thoughts drift into sinful patterns once again.
It’s in these moments that we can feel the weakest, discouraged and defeated, despite a tremendous victory just moments earlier. Perhaps that is exactly how Elijah felt, sitting under the broom tree in the wilderness.
It can be so discouraging to realize our faith is not as strong as we thought. We crumble at the simplest trial, setback or life inconvenience. It becomes the proverbial “straw that broke the camel’s back”, because it may suddenly hit us harder than major traumas like death of a loved one, a terminal illness, addiction, or a serious financial loss.
This apparent weakness actually points out our desperate need for the Messiah. Jesus understands our needs, failures, and weaknesses. Jesus still meets us in the valley, even though we were just on the mountaintop with Him.
Signs and wonders, no matter how awesome, are truly special – which means they don’t accompany us day in and day out. That is why God invites us to dwell in the constant, abiding presence of His presence – Emanu-El, God with us.
Elijah’s Journey Continues Beyond Mount Carmel
An angel ministered to Elijah in his personal valley. He encouraged the prophet to sleep and eat, and only then to continue on his way to Mount Horeb. At Mount Horeb, God spoke to Elijah again… but not in the same manner as He did on Mount Carmel.
“So He said, ‘Go forth and stand on the mountain before the LORD.’ And behold, the LORD was passing by! A great and strong wind was rending the mountains and breaking in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire a sound of a gentle blowing. When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave. And behold, a voice came to him and said, ‘What are you doing here, Elijah?’” (1 Kings 19:11-13)
On Mount Carmel, Elijah and the whole crowd of onlookers saw the power of God come down mightily and evidently. But on Mount Horeb, God spoke differently. Not in an earthquake, not in a fire, but in a soft still voice.
The Significance of Mount Horeb
Elijah was desolate and waited for a response from God. He saw the fire and the show of strength on Mount Carmel… but now, where has that faith gone as he became a refugee from Jezebel’s wrath?
In such a moment of desperation, what can we do but wait? How often do we have to wait on the Lord for clarity, direction, especially when the circumstances feel dire? In the chaos, in fires and winds–what recourse do we have but to wait?
In the waiting, we can choose the stillness to feel God’s loving response. And the waiting gives us time to reflect: “What am I doing here? What brought me to this moment?” It doesn’t take too long to remember that our fear and anxieties had us fleeing and running for our lives.
In this moment of stillness, the Lord spoke to Elijah gently, giving him clarity and direction to move forward.
From Mount Carmel to Mount Tabor
On Mount Carmel we see the defining moment of Elijah’s “career” as a prophet. It was the amazing victory over the prophets of Baal with a mighty show of strength and miraculous power.
On Mount Tabor, we see the miracle of Jesus’ transfiguration. It was a rare moment of revelation, and certainly “out of character” in Jesus’ tendency to obscure his identity. Jesus would often leave it to the faith of those who followed Him. Those expecting the signs and wonders of Elijah would have missed Jesus. And Jesus added, “If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; from now on you know Him, and have seen Him.” (John 14:7)
Peter saw Jesus transfigured on Mount Tabor, with Moses and Elijah on each side of Him. And even so, Peter denied Jesus three times as the events of the passion unfolded. Peter saw a miracle and yet wavered in a moment of trial! We could call Peter weak, and some may claim that if they saw such a miracle, they would never lose faith!
Oftentimes, it’s easy to be jealous of the disciples who walked with Jesus. They saw him minister, teach and heal people. But even those who walked with Jesus needed help, mercy and compassion for their weaknesses, lack of sight and faith.
Mount Carmel Today
Today, Mount Carmel is a popular place for hiking and excursions. You can even visit ancient ruins on its slopes, and many places of worship.
Mount Carmel can serve us as a reminder that the Lord does show up with might and power, through amazing signs and wonders. But it also challenges us to believe without seeing and without needing visible proof.
At the same time, the events of Mount Carmel remind us that there is the invitation to repent is always there – no matter how gone we may feel in our faith or shortcoming. There is always an open door to come back and fall into the Father’s loving embrace.
Have you had a Mount Carmel moment in your life? Tell us about it!
Works Cited
The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. “Mount Carmel”. Encyclopedia Britannica, 18 Jul. 2024, https://www.britannica.com/place/Mount-Carmel-mountain-ridge-Israel. Accessed 27 March 2025.
The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. “Jezebel”. Encyclopedia Britannica, 19 Feb. 2025, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Jezebel-queen-of-Israel. Accessed 27 March 2025.
The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. “Baal”. Encyclopedia Britannica, 14 Feb. 2025, https://www.britannica.com/topic/Baal-ancient-deity. Accessed 30 March 2025.
Visiting Israel: In the Footsteps of Jesus: Free PDF Download
It is quite exciting to think that while touring Israel you are walking on the same land that Jesus did.
Whether it is the reason why you came to Israel or not, it is worth noting which locations were significant to His life and ministry. God chose this piece of land to send His Son to live on earth. Many archeological findings confirm the locations mentioned in the Bible.
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