Elijah on Mount Carmel

Illustration of Elijah on Mount Carmel
Era
Divided Kingdom
Date
c. 860 BC โ‰ˆ Approximate
Reference
1 Kings 18:30-39
One prophet against four hundred and fifty. Fire fell from heaven, and the people fell on their faces.

In the era of King Ahab and Queen Jezebel, widespread idolatry had led Israel to abandon the covenant with the Lord in favor of Baal worship, prompting a severe drought as divine judgment. On Mount Carmel, the prophet Elijah confronted 450 prophets of Baal in a public contest, preparing identical sacrifices without fire and challenging each side to call upon its deity to respond. After the prophets of Baal failed despite frantic appeals, Elijah prayed once and God sent fire from heaven that consumed the offering, wood, stones, and surrounding water, proving the Lord alone is God. This demonstration reaffirmed Israel's monotheistic faith, led to the slaying of the false prophets, and preceded the restoration of rain, underscoring themes of covenant loyalty and divine sovereignty throughout Scripture.

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Did You Know?

1

On Mount Carmel, the prophet Elijah confronted 450 prophets of Baal in a public contest, preparing identical sacrifices without fire and challenging each side to call upon its deity to respond.

2

After the prophets of Baal failed despite frantic appeals, Elijah prayed once and God sent fire from heaven that consumed the offering, wood, stones, and surrounding water, proving the Lord alone is God.

3

This event is dated to approximately c. 860 BC in biblical chronology.

4

Key figures involved: Elijah, Ahab, Jezebel.

5

This took place at or near Mount Carmel.

Key Passage

Elijah on Mount Carmel

1 Kings 18:30-39

A30nd Elijah said unto all the people, Come near unto me. And all the people came near unto him. And he repaired the altar of the LORD that was broken down.

31 And Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, unto whom the word of the LORD came, saying, Israel shall be thy name: 32 And with the stones he built an altar in the name of the LORD: and he made a trench about the altar, as great as would contain two measures of seed. 33 And he put the wood in order, and cut the bullock in pieces, and laid him on the wood, and said, Fill four barrels with water, and pour it on the burnt sacrifice, and on the wood. 34 And he said, Do it the second time. And they did it the second time. And he said, Do it the third time. And they did it the third time. 35 And the water ran round about the altar; and he filled the trench also with water. 36 And it came to pass at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near, and said, LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that thou art God in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that I have done all these things at thy word. 37 Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this people may know that thou art the LORD God, and that thou hast turned their heart back again. 38 Then the fire of the LORD fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench. 39 And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces: and they said, The LORD, he is the God; the LORD, he is the God.

Read full chapter: 1 Kings 18 โ†’

Meanwhile in the World

Assyria becomes the world's first great empire, conquering from Egypt to Persia. Greece emerges from its Dark Age - the Olympic Games begin (776 BC). Rome is founded (753 BC). Carthage is established. This is the height of Assyrian military power and the rise of Greek city-states.

When: c. 930 - 586 BC

Key Civilizations: Neo-Assyrian Empire, Archaic Greece

Biblical Parallels: 1 Kings 12-22 , 2 Kings 1-25 , Isaiah 1-66

Explore Related

Characters 3

Elijah Elijah was a powerful prophet in the northern kingdom of Israel during the reign of King Ahab and Queenโ€ฆ Ahab Ahab ruled as king of the northern kingdom of Israel in the ninth century BC and is portrayed in Scriptureโ€ฆ Jezebel Jezebel was the daughter of a Phoenician king who married Israel's ruler Ahab and used her royal authorityโ€ฆ

Places 1

Mount Carmel Mount Carmel is a coastal mountain range in northern Israel that serves as the setting for one of the mostโ€ฆ

Miracles 1

Fire from Heaven on Mount Carmel Elijah prayed one short prayer on Mount Carmel. Fire fell from heaven, consumed the sacrifice, the stones,โ€ฆ