Mount Carmel

The summit of Mount Carmel, which rises to a height of 482 meters (1581 feet), is called in Arabic el-Muhraqa. It forms a balcony opening onto the plain

of Jezreel. On clear days it gives views of Megiddo, Mt. Gelboe and Nazareth and of the rounded peak of Mount Tabor. Below runs a line of greenery

which marks the course of the brook Kishon which flows around the base of the Tell Qassis before turning towards the Mediterranean Sea. Traditionally

el-Muhraqa has been identified as the site of the dramatic episode in which Elijah, in the presence of King Ahab and the people of Israel, challenged the

prophets of Baal to demonstrate who was the true God and called down fire from heaven to consume his sacrifice.

Elijah's Victory

The statue at the Carmelite monastery reflects the Lord's victory over the prophets of Baal. Shortly after

fire came down from heaven and consumed the sacrifice, altar and even the water, Elijah had the prophets

of Baal slaughtered at the Brook Kishon - something which should have happened long before!

Coney

Syrian rock hyraxes (Hebrew: שפן הסלע shafan ha-sella) are widely believed to be the biblical “shafan”, also known as the rock coney in English. The

hyraxes of the Middle East are the only non-African members of the hyrax family. They are certainly amongst Israel's cutest animals and they're

fascinating to watch. They live in family groups with one adult who stands guard while the rest of the group feeds.

Note the guard on the cliff to the far right being the protector of the herd

View of Jezreel Valley in next four photos

The Plain of Jezreel, or simply the Jezreel Valley, took its name from one of the most important cities which flourished there during the Biblical period.

The valley extends across the breadth of the country, between Mt. Carmel, Mount Gilboa and the Hills of Lower Galilee. The River Kishon flows through

its whole length to the Mediterranean Sea. From early times the valley was of the utmost importance to communications between the coast and the countries

to the north and east. Fortified cities of Megiddo, Tannach, Ibleam, and BethShean were built in order to guard the mountain passes leading into and

from the valley.

Some of the greatest battles in Biblical history took place here, including the battle between Deborah and Sisera (Judges 4-5); the battle between

Gideon and the Midianites (Judges 7), the battle between Saul and the Philistines (I Sam. 29 and 31), and the battle between Josiah and Pharaoh

Necho (II Kgs. 23:29-30).