the earth.” The prophet obeyed. When Achab saw him, he said: “Art thou he that troublest Israel?” The prophet answered: “I have not troubled Israel, but thou and thy father’s house, who have forsaken the Commandments of the Lord and followed Baalim. Nevertheless send now and gather unto me all Israel unto Mount Carmel (Fig. 49)[1], and the prophets of Baal, four hundred and fifty, and the prophets of the groves, four hundred.”
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Fig. 49. Mount Carmel. (Phot. Bonfils.)
Achab obeyed[2], being afraid to do otherwise, on account of the famine that was everywhere, and he went himself to the mountain. Then Elias spoke to the people of Israel saying: “How
- ↑ Mount Carmel. Mount Carmel is situated to the north of Samaria, projecting into the Mediterranean, where it terminates in Cape Carmel (see Map). The sacrifice of Elias took place on one of the heights of the chain. There stands, not far from the sea, a famous Carmelite Monastery.
- ↑ Obeyed. He accepted the proposal of the man of God, being forced thereto by the need of his subjects.
save the horses and mules, that the beasts may not utterly perish" (3 Kings 18, 5). By this we can see how great the want was. Trees were withered, meadows burnt up, gardens and fields bare. Nothing green was to be seen, and the parched earth cried out for life-giving rain.
