Mt. Carmel (Muhraka)

Mt. Carmel & Elijah

Mt. Carmel is a continuation of the central mountain range, thrusting northwestward into the Mediterranean. This plunge continues beneath the water for six miles. In the time of Pharaoh Pepi I (ca. 2300 BC), the mountain served as a landmark for ancient Egyptian seafarers, who called it "the antelope's nose." 

The Upper Carmel, some 12 miles long (20 km.), maintains a fairly steady height of about 1300 feet over sea level. There are four peaks. The lowest of these, at Muhraka (1540 feet), stands out in contrast with the lower Carmel (ca. 700 feet), which stretches southward from it to the pass by Megiddo. Since the Bible says that Elijah went to the top of Carmel after confronting the prophets of Baal (1 Kings 18:42), and since this peak was the most conspicuous, it attracted the tradition of that event. Today the Carmelite monastery of Muhraka (Arabic for "burnt offering") stands here. Its roof affords a view over the Jezreel Plain. 

Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE(r), (c) Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. (www.Lockman.org)

© 2003 Near East Tourist Agency (NET)
Text © 2003 Stephen Langfur