Carmel

As the only high land on the Mediterranean coastline of Palestine the Carmel ridge gets higher than average rainfall and so is particularly fertile (Isaiah 33:9; Jer 50:19 cf. Na 1:4).

Nabal was rich and held land there (1 Samuel 25:2); Elijah's contest with the prophets of Baal - which concerned provision of rain - occurred here (1 Kings 18:19ff.)

Left from Carmel north-east, below Carmel ridge from south.

This fertility is the point of the reference to "Carmel's crest" in Am 1:2, while in 9:3, where the phrase parallels the "sea bed" and follows talk of the sky, it is the steep height of the ridge that is in view.

This page is part of the Hypertext Bible Commentary - Amos , if you have reached it as a standalone page, to view it in context, go to www.bible.gen.nz
© Tim Bulkeley, 1996-2005, Tim Bulkeley. All rights reserved.