Mukhraka - The Place of Elijah’s Contest on Carmel
They say once you`ve read the Bible where its events
actually happened, you`ll never be the same. Nowhere is
this truer than on Mount Carmel, at Mukhraka, which means
"burned place," where Elijah faced off against the
prophets of Baal and God sent down fire from Heaven. (I
Kings 18:17-46).
From the Carmelite Monastery roof or along Carmel`s
hiking routes, the story is revealed: surrounding
limestone outcroppings are overgrown with lichen, black
as the soot from the fire that consumed Elijah`s burnt
offering; to the west is the Mediterranean, where
Elijah`s servant saw the cloud signaling God`s renewed
blessing (I Kings 18:44); to the northeast is more
Scripture scenery on the palm of your hand: the Kishon
Brook, where Baal`s prophets met their end (I Kings
18:40), winding through the fertile fields of the Jezreel
Valley, also known as the Valley of Armageddon.
1 Kings 17:2-7
2 And the word of the Lord came to him, 3 "Depart from
here and turn eastward, and hide yourself by the brook
Cherith, that is east of the Jordan. 4 You shall drink
from the brook, and I have commanded the ravens to feed
you there." 5 So he went and did according to the word of
the Lord; he went and dwelt by the brook Cherith that is
east of the Jordan. 6 And the ravens brought him bread
and meat in the morning, and bread and meat in the
evening; and he drank from the brook. 7 And after a
while the brook dried up, because there was no rain in
the land.
(Israel Minister of Tourism)
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