The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1891-01-15

Elijah proposed the test Ahab accepted it.
He was quito ready 10 do anything to end the
famine. Matters could scarce bs worse, any
way. 1t Ahabs command $50 priests OF Baal
reported at Mt, Carmel. Elijah is tho only
Prophet OF God to take part in the oyent-one
to 4J0. The masses are invited to witness the
test. They had been woFshiping Baal, and yet
they could not totally forsake the true God.
Many were making the vain experiment OF
serving both God and Baal. In some cases, in
the land OF Israel, people would construct two
affairs, one for God and one for Baal, and so,
Offering sacrifices on both, try 70 make sure Of
meeting success through one or the other.
Now comes Elijah. Hear him: How long
halt ye between two opinions? If the Lord be
God, follow him but if Baal, then follow him"
Next he made the challenge. He proposed 3
test by which TO see which was the real God.
The people at once fell in with the plan. The
priests Of Ba4l were obliged TO accept the chal-
lenge. The affairs were gotten in readiness
with the sacrifices. The priests of Baal were
given the FIRST chance to test
2 Data.
/ XII, IS: 1929.
3. Time
We recall "these years" in verse Of chapter
IL. Then many days" 10: /, help in fixing
time. The account 17:1) also says in the
third year" Christ puts the interval between
and the return Of Elijah TO Ahab (l9: H. at three
years and six months. (St. Luke, 4 25; and
SEQ st. James, ): III Thus Ne learn both the
period Of time passing while Elijah was at
Cherith and SaTepta ZarephathJ and the dura-
ton of the famine caused by cessation Of rain.
Elijah went TO Ahab first, ID. G. go. We date
this lesson Ii. e. SOC. That was about % cen
turtles ago. Solomon had been dead 90 years
Verse &c shows the time spent by the Baalites
In soliciting their god to burn up the testing
sacrifice. They were all day at it; from morn
ing till the time of the evening sacrifice
(F. 36.) The evening sacrifice was offered at
o'clock.
1t seems they spent all the morning without
any interruption from Elijah. Suppose they
got their sacrifice in readiness to offer at the
regular time OF the Jewish morning sacrifice 9
o'clock. They had three full hours to put their
god to thorough test before Elijah tainted
them. Ii was not till so much time had passed
Intellectually that Elijah ventured 10 mock
them. ~. 27.) The priests probably became
quite discouraged, and began 20 look about
wOnderngly Tor the cause Of BaaPs failure to
respond to their worship. Elijah met their
iuquiFng gaze by what might be regarded as
helpful, suggestive suppositions as if trying to
account houorably and satisfactorily for Balls
absence and inetiicienCy. This set the priests
into Juror Of excitement. From noon Nv. 26)
10 I" the time Of Offering OF the evening saeri-
fee" tN % they gave themselves up 20 ire
meudous Juror, vocal rawlings physical contOr-
tiOns. bodily seif-iaceratious. Three hours thus
passed Meanwhile they were gOaded on by
celebrations from Elijah. In irony Elijah said.
Cry aloud; for he IS a God. Either he is
talking with some other partiesl, or he Is pur-
suiug off huntingI, or he is in journey, or
peradyenturs be sleepeth is having his sesta
or after dinner napl and must be awaked."
Now they become more excited than ever, even
cutting themselves with knives and lancets,
and so mngling human with brute blood.
Thus they kept up till 3 o'clock p. IN.
4. Place.
We are interested in the scene OF this men,
oTablc contest. 1t was Oh Mt Carmel. This is
range o. five or six miles, running northwest.
The northwest end reaches TO the bay Of Acre,
on the Mediterranean coast; the southeast runs
down into southern Galilee and northern Sa-
maria East Of the interior end is the Valley Of
distraction. The events of the lesson occurred
On an elevation west of the valley 1865 feet
above the sea. 1000 feet above the Kishon,
which runs along the side Of Carmel. looking
to the north. Two hundred and City feet be-
low the spot where the affairs were built is q
perennial spring or we'll. IL is southeast from
the summit. (Ys. 80 80. 81 The modern
name for the exact location is El-Mohhraka,
which means "The Burnt Place" in allusion
to the circumstances which are our study.
The name Carmel was given in particular 10
| the highest peak. The summit suggests fiat
tened cone. The modern name is sometimes
| spelled El-Muhrakah. The Kishon flows along
the north side, The range ends at the sea
| shore Mediterranean in bluff. The sum-
nit is amply large 10 meet the conditions Of the
| contest. The word Carmel means park or
| garden, and the locality is noted for its ahun-
dance Of varied and beautiful flowers. Carmel
| is generally pronounced the most desirable to
- r 4 - IL
pressive appearance as seen from the sea is fire.
auently noticed. The summit constitutes q
| sort of natural platform just adapted for such
| n scene as the contest between God and Baal.
| From the top one can see the snowy peaks OF
| Lebanon, tho fine expanse of the waters of the
| Mediterranean from Athlit to CBsarea, the
| provinces of Galilee, Judea, Perea. The city
| of Samaria, Ahabs Capital. was in full view.
| The locality is historic. Within sight Barak
| aud Deborah overcame Sisers; Gideon con-
| quered the Midianites; the Philistines forced
| Saul to retreat. Once the banners Of the Cru
/ saders waved in the neighborhOod. There Ma
pOle0n flung 20 the breezes his flags.
From verso a. go up now, look toward
/ the sea-" 10 seems the spot where Elijah's altar
/ was built must have been on the plateau below
the summit. In such case the words "top OF
Carmel" Wee includes much of the upper
part Of the mountain.
The Carmelites not great while ago erected
q church building on the bluff
5. BdaL
He was the male god Of the PhenicIans.
| The marriage Of Ahab and Jezebel was q main
| cause of the general worshipof Baal during the
| reign of Ahab. She was from Sidon Phe-
nician city, and through her influence over
| Ahab the worship of her god became general
| in the Kingdom of Israel. &c: 3l-33.) As
tarte was the female (goddess) object of
| worship Her symbol in PhGnieian temples
was star, and it was supposed she had charge
of the sky aud hence the worship was Sabian.
| Baal was the god Of fire. We see therefore
how apt was the test suggested by Elijah. A
| god ought to succeed specially in his own line.
6. BdaFs Prophets.
Comparing verses 10 and 20 with verse 90
we are led to believe there were only $50
priests of BAal present. Josephus gives $50.
| The heather form of worship was Erastian
since it is plain the priests OF BGal and Astarte
| were supported at Governmental expense.
| (V. 49, Remember the 100 were put in con-
test with one prophet, Elijah. And consider
| that the $50 had on their side the patronage OF
| the Government, while Elijah was q fugitive
| 10: 15J with King and Queen both enraged at
| him. But Elijah was not alone. God was
| with him. A man with God is never in the
minority.
T. Critical Notes
I. Groves" V. 10. The worship Of early
days was largely in groves instead OF in tenn
plies proper. (l6: 80; Ell, 81: ID, Ii; Deu.,
1873; Jud., 3:7)
0 "a E,t AZ Io1abaIIa tshIap w ny IT. .