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in the history of Christ, where the descent to Gethsemane was in reality the
commencement of the ascent to the Right Hand of God. Moses died and was buried
at the Hand of God, Elijah went up with chariot of fire; Jesus died on the cross. Yet
whereas from the mountain-top Moses and Elijah really descended, so far as their
work and mission were concerned, the seeming descent of Jesus was the real ascent
to the topmost height of His work and glory.
No spot in Palestine is more beautiful, more bracing, or healthful than Carmel, "the
Park-like." Up in the northwest, it juts as a promontory into the Mediterranean, rising
to a height of five hundred feet. Thence it stretches about twelve miles to the S.S.E.,
rising into two other peaks. The first of these, about four miles from the promontory,
is not less than 1740 feet high. Still further to the south-east is a third peak, 1687 feet
high,^3 which to this day bears the name of El-Mahrakah, or "place of burning"
(sacrifice).
This, there can scarcely be a doubt, was the place of Elijah's sacrifice. Let us try to
realize the scene. On whichever side
the mountain be ascended, the scene is one of unsurpassed beauty. The rich red soil,
where not cultivated, is covered by a thick brushwood of luxurious evergreens. Not
only flowering trees and delicious fragrant herbs, but all the flora of the North of
Palestine seems gathered in this favored spot. So early as November, the crocus,
narcissus, pink cistus, and large daisy are in bloom, and the hawthorn in bud. In
spring, wild tulips, dark red anemones, pink phlox, cyclamen, purple stocks,
marigolds, geranium, and pink, yellow, and white rock-roses make it bright with gay
coloring. For numerous springs trickle along the foot of the mountain and fertilize the
soil. Ascending to El-Mahrakah we catch glimpses of cliffs, which in some places
descend sheer down to the plain. At last we reach a plateau where at the edge of a
steep slope there is a perennial well, filled with water even in the driest season. Yet a
little higher rises another plateau of rich soil, shaded by olives; and finally we reach
the topmost peak, a semi-isolated knoll. This was the place of the two altars; that of
Baal, and that ruined one of Jehovah restored by Elijah, and dating from before the
building of the Temple, when such worship was lawful. On the plateau beneath,
under the shade of the olives, full in view of the highest altar-peak, were on the one
side Elijah, and on the other King Ahab, the priests of Baal, and the people. Yet a
little lower was the well whence the water for Elijah's sacrifice was drawn. Some
1400 feet beneath, where the rapid descent is close to steep precipices and by sharp
crags, rolls that "ancient river" Kishon, where the wild slaughter of the priests of
Baal formed the closing scene in the drama of that day. But up on the topmost altar-
height what an outlook! Westwards over Carmel and far to the sandhills around
Caesarea; northwards, the Galilean hills, Lebanon and Hermon; eastwards, across the
plain of Esdraelon, some six miles off, to Jezreel, - further away, to Shunem, Endor,
(^)