Charles Ellicott Commentary 1 Kings 18:19

"Now therefore send, and gather to me all Israel unto mount Carmel, and the prophets of Baal four hundred and fifty, and the prophets of the Asherah four hundred, that eat at Jezebel`s table." — 1 Kings 18:19 (ASV)

Carmel. —The word means a “garden” or “park” (Isaiah 32:15–16, etc.) and, when used for the proper name of the mountain, commonly has the article. Mount Carmel—rightly called “the park,” well planted and watered, of central Palestine—is a limestone ridge with deep, thickly wooded ravines. It runs north-west for about twelve miles from the central hills of Manasseh, forming the south side of the bay of Ptolemais and almost reaching the sea. However, it leaves a space around which the southern armies constantly poured into the plain of Jezreel. It varies from 600 feet to 1,700 feet in height.

Near its higher eastern extremity, there is a place still called El Maharrakah, “the burning,” in view of the plain and city of Jezreel and commanding from one point a glimpse of the sea. This is the traditional (and highly probable) scene of Elijah’s sacrifice. Carmel is previously mentioned in Joshua 19:26 as falling to Asher. The existence of the altar of the Lord shows that, as was natural, it was made one of the “high places”; indeed, it appears to have been known as such even by pagans. In the prophetic writings, it is referred to as proverbial for its luxuriant pasturage and beauty (Jeremiah 4:26; Amos 1:2; Amos 9:3; Song of Solomon 7:6). No more striking scene could well be found for the great drama of this chapter.

The prophets of the groves ( Asherah ) ... —These, being probably the devotees of the female deity Astarte, seem to have been especially favored by the queen. However, it should be noted that, despite Elijah’s challenge, they do not appear at all in the subsequent scene (see 1 Kings 18:22; 1 Kings 18:40).