![]() A Yahwistic altar had existed at some earlier point on Mount Carmel, but had been damaged and fallen into disrepair.Two noteworthy points emerge from this passage about Elijah on Mount Carmel: 39), a quote which caps the final, Neilah service of Yom Kippur. The Israelites then acclaim: “YHWH is God” (v. The story continues with Elijah bringing fire down from the heavens on his altar, thereby winning the contest. 18:31 Then Elijah took twelve stones, corresponding to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob-to whom the word of YHWH had come: “Israel shall be your name”- 18:32 and with the stones he built an altar in the name of YHWH… The prophets of Baal go first but all their rituals and prayers are to no avail. Only the “true” god will accept his prophet’s offering by consuming the sacrifice with heavenly fire. Each would set up an offering and call to his god. ![]() ![]() 1 Kgs 18:21 Elijah approached all the people and said, “How long will you keep hopping between two opinions? If YHWH is God, follow Him and if Baal, follow him!” But the people answered him not a word.Įlijah organizes a contest between him and the prophets of Baal. Correct worship of YHWH cannot be compromised, either through an illegitimate physical representation of YHWH such as the calf, or by worshipping YHWH alongside a foreign god such as the Phoenician Baal. Elijah is to some extent patterned after Moses, and both passages focus on proper and improper worship. The story of Elijah’s dramatic contest against the 450 prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel (1 Kgs 18) was chosen as the haftarah reading for Parashat Ki-Tissa, which relates the sin of the golden calf. ![]()
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