A well-known mountain ridge in Palestine; ("the garden" or "garden land," with the definite article) is usually given in the Bible. It is known in later Hebrew as , and in modern Arabic as "Kurmul," but more usually "Jabal Mar Elyas." Extending from the plain of Esdraelon to the Mediterranean, it terminates in a steep promontory in that sea, about nine miles south-west of Acre. The formation is of limestone withan admixture of flint. The highest point is 1,742 feet above the sea, and the slope is covered with a luxuriant vegetation. Oaks, pines, olives, and laurels abound.
Carmel is renowned in Jewish history, and occurs frequently in the imagery of the Prophets (Isa. xxxiii. 9, xxxv. 2; Jer. xlvi. 18, 1. 19; Amos i. 2, ix. 3; Micah vii. 14; Nahum i. 4; Song of Solomon vii. 5). It fell to the lot of the tribe of Asher (Josh. xix. 26), "the king of Jokneam of Carmel" being one of the Canaanitish chiefs who was defeated by Joshua (Josh. xii. 22). It is also famous as the place where the prophet Elijah brought Israel back to its allegiance to
It is reasonable to suppose that from very early times Carmel was considered a sacred spot. This is evidenced by the facts that an altar to
The exact site of the contest between
- Cheyne and Black, Encyc. Bibl.;
- McClintock and Strong, Cyc.;
- Hastings, Dict. Bibl.;
- Porter, Handbook for Syria;
- Robinson, Biblical Researches in Palestine, Mt. Sinai, and Arabia Petræa, iii. 160, 189;
- Smith, Dictionary of the Bible;
- Thomson, The Land and the Book, i. 493;
- Tristram, The Land of Israel, p. 496.