II. CARMEL, a Mountain to the South of Ptolemaïs, and the North of Dora, upon the Mediterranean. At the foot of this Mountain, on the North side run the brook Kishon, and a little farther the river Beleus. Josephus makes Carmel to be a part of Galilee1, but it belonged rather to the Tribe of Manasseh, and to the Southern Josh. xix. 26.part of the Tribe of Asher. The word Carmel signifies the Vineyard; and S. Jerom informs us, that the top of this Mountain abounded with good pastures. Upon it an old Deity was worshipped, called likewise Carmel2: but there was, as Tacitus says, neither Statue nor Temple belonging to it; there was only an Altar there, and religious worship was paid to this Divinity: Nec simulacrum Deo aut Templum; sic tradidere majores; Aram & reverentiam. Jamblichus tells us, that Pythagoras went often to this Mountain, and remained alone there in the Temple. On the side next towards the Sea, there is a cave shewn, where some suppose the Prophet Elijah desired Abab to bring Baal’s false Prophets, and fire from Heaven to have descended upon the burnt Sacrifice, which he 1 Kings xviii.prepared there.
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