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Nain, Tabor, Nazareth, and even distant Gilead. A theater this truly befitting what
was to be enacted on it.
Among those who on that day had gathered under the olives on that shady plateau
just beneath the topmost peak, the four hundred priests of Astarte were not found.
Whether they had shrunk from the encounter, or had deemed it inconsistent with the
wishes of their spiritual patroness, the queen, to appear on such an occasion, certain
it is that they were not with their four hundred and fifty colleagues of the priesthood
of Baal. These must have been conspicuous amid king, courtiers, and the motley
gathering from all parts of the land, by their white dresses and high pointed caps.
Over against them, his upper garment of black camel-hair girt with a leathern girdle,
stood the stern figure of the prophet; in the foreground was King Ahab. It was,
indeed, a unique gathering, a wondrous array of forces, a day of tremendous import.
To this Elijah had bidden king, priests, and people, and he left them not long in doubt
of his object. First, he turned to the people with these words, which must have alike
shown them their real condition and appealed to their judgment: "How long halt ye"
(pass ye from one to the other^4 ) "as to the two opinions" (divisions, parties^5 )?
If Jehovah be the Elohim - go after Him; but if the Baal, go after him! To an appeal
so trenchantly true there could in the then condition of the public mind be no answer.
Their very appearance on Mount Carmel was an attestation of this mental passing to
and fro on the part of Israel - irrational, unsatisfactory, and self-condemnatory
(Deuteronomy 6:4, etc.). But the question of Elijah also formed a most apt
preparation for what was to follow. The two divided opinions were now to be
brought to the test of truth; the two parties to measure their strength. Let Israel see
and decide!
In the breathless silence that ensued upon this challenge Elijah now stood forward,
and pointing to the white-robed crowd of priests over against him, he recalled to king
and people that he and he only remained - that is, in active office and open
profession^6 - a prophet of Jehovah. Single-handed, therefore, he would go to the
contest, if contest of power it were against that multitude. Power! They worshipped
as God the powers of nature:^7 let them then make trial on whose side the powers
which are in nature were arrayed.
Let this be the test: the priests of Baal on their side, and he on his, would each choose
a bullock and prepare it for
sacrifice, but not kindle the fire beneath, "and it shall be the Elohim who shall answer
by fire, He is the Elohim." A shout of universal assent greeted the proposal. In the
circumstances it would be of the greatest practical importance that the futility of
Baal-worship should be exhibited in the fullest manner. This explains the details of
all that follows. Besides, after a whole day's vain appliance of every resource of their
(^)