CARMEL (kar'meI), (Heb. kartnef , a planted field, park, garden).
1. A range of hills extending northwest from the plain of Esdraelon, and ending in a promon tory or cape which forms the Bay of Acre.
The extent of this range of hills is about six miles, not in a direct line, but the two extremi ties (on the western side towards the sea) jut out, and stand over against each other, forming a bow in the middle. The height is about 1,5oo feet ; and at the foot of the mountain, on the south, runs the brook Kishon, and a little further north, the River Belus. Mount Carmel consists rather of several connected hills than of one ridge, the north and eastern parts being some what higher than the southern and western. The foot of the northern portion approaches the water very closely, so that, when seen from the hills northeast of Acre, the mountain appears as if dipping his feet in the western sea ;' but further south it retires more inland, so as to leave be tween the mountain and the sea an extensive and very fertile plain.
Mount Carmel forms the only great promon tory upon the coast of Palestine. According to the reports of most travelers the mountain well deserves its Hebrew name (Carmel—country of vineyards and gardens). Mariti describes it as 'a delightful region,' and says the good quality of its soil is apparent from the fact that many odoriferous plants and flowers, as hyacinths, jonquils, tazettos, anemones, etc., grow wild upon the mountain (Travels, p. 274, sq). Otto von Richter (1Vallfahrten, p. 64) gives the fol lowing account : Mount Carmel is entirely cov ered with verdure. On its summit are pines and oaks, and further down olives and laurel trees, everywhere plentifully watered. It gives rise to a multitude of crystal brooks, the largest of which issues from the so-called Fountain of Elijah ; and they all hurry along, between banks thickly over grown with bushes, to the Kishon. Every species of tillage succeeds here admirably under this mild and cheerful sky. The prospect from the summit of the mountain over the gulf of Acre and its fertile shores, and over the blue heights of Lebanon and the White Cape is enchanting. Isaiah (xxxv :2) alludes to 'the excellency (splen did ornaments) of Carmel.' So, on account of the graceful form and verdant beauty of the sum mit, the head of the bride in Cant. vii :5 is com pared to Carmel. It was also celebrated for its
pastures, and is therefore ranked with Bashan in Is. xxxii1:9; Jer. xlvi :18; Amos i :2). A forest probably consisting chiefly of fruit trees, was in its midst (Mic. vii The mountain is of compact limestone, and, as often happens where that is the case (see CAVE), there are in it very many caverns—it is said, ruore than a thousand. In one tract, called the Monk's Cavern, there are as many as four hundred ad jacent to each other, furnished with windows and with places for sleeping hewn in the rock.
That the grottoes and caves of Mount Carmel were already. in very ancient tunes, the abode of prophets and other religious persons is well known. The prophets Elijah and Elisha often re sorted thither (1 Kings xviii :i9. sq. 42; 2 Kings ii :25 ; iv :25, and comp. perhaps 1 Kings xviii :4. 13). At the present day is shown a cavern called the cave of Elijah, a little below the Monks' Cavern already mentioned, and which is now a Moslem sanctuary. Upon the summit is an an cient establishment of Carmelite monks, which order, derived its name from this moun tain. The old convent was destroyed by Ahdallah Pasha, who converted the materials to his own use; but it has of late years been rebuilt on a somewhat imposing scale by the aid of contribu tions from Europe.
2. Another Carmel, among the mountains of Judah, is named in Josh. xv :55. It was here that Saul set up the trophy of his victory over Ama lek (I Sam. xv :12), and where Nabal %vas shear ing his sheep when the affair took place between him and David. in which Abigail bore co con spicuous a part (I Sam. xxv :2, sq.). This Car mel is described by Eusebius and Jerome as, in their day, a village, with a Roman garrison, ten miles from Hebron, verging toward the east. From the time of the Crusades till the present century its name seems to have been forgotten. But it was recognized by recent travelers under the name of Kurmul. The place is now utterly desolate, hut the ruins indicate a town of consid erable extent and importance. The most remark able ruin is that of a castle, quadrangular, stand ing on a swell of ground in the midst of the town. A minute description of this and the other re mains is given by Dr. Robinson (Bib. Researches, ii. pp. 195-2o1). The distance of this place from Hebron is about nine Roman miles.