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  • Carmel
    Aid to Bible Understanding
    • the Plain of Dothan, beyond which lie the hills of Samaria. The range has three distinct sections, the ridges of the NW and SE being separated by a lower rocky basin or plateau in the center. The NW section has the highest point, some 1,791 feet (546 meters) above sea level. It is not certain whether the name Carmel in Bible times applied to the entire range or only to the NW ridge, which is about 13 miles (20.9 kilometers) long. In modern times the name “Mount Carmel” (Jebel el-Karmal) is assigned to this latter part. Jokneam, a royal Canaanite city, lay at the SE end of this upper section and it is spoken of as “in Carmel.” Megiddo and Taanach, on the E slopes of the SE section, are not so designated.—Josh. 12:22.

      The land of Canaan (Palestine) may be divided geographically into three basic sections, each running the length of the land from N to S: the Jordan valley, the hill country, and the coastal plain. The Carmel range, however, makes a definite break in this general pattern. Interrupting the continuity of the N-S mountain ranges, it produces the well-known Valley of Jezreel or Esdraelon, which flanks the SE side of the Carmel range. Similarly, the headland or promontory of Carmel, jutting into the Mediterranean coastal plain, divides it into the Plain of Asher (N of Carmel) and the Plains of Sharon and Philistia (S of Carmel). Immediately N of the Carmel headland, the coastline cuts back sharply to form the Bay of Acco, where modern Haifa now constitutes a major seaport.

      Carmel formed a natural roadblock to caravans and armies passing through Canaan on their way to or from either Mesopotamia or Egypt. Not only do the eastern slopes (facing the Plain of Asher and the Valley of Jezreel) rise very steeply, but, from ancient times, the Carmel range has been covered by a thick growth of trees and shrubs making passage difficult. There is a narrow strip of land between the foot of the Carmel headland and the sea, but to take this route meant a considerable detour and also placed advancing armies in a vulnerable position. There were mountain passes leading from the Valley of Jezreel across the range by the fortress cities of Jokneam and Taanach, but the pass at Megiddo, between these two, was much easier to traverse and so more vital. Another principal route, however, ran S from the crossroads town of Megiddo, skirted the remainder of the Carmel range, and then swung W over to the coast via the Plain of Dothan.

      Carmel fully merited its name for fruitfulness in ancient times and hence is often associated with other notably fertile regions such as Lebanon, Sharon and Bashan. (Isa. 35:2; Jer. 50:19) King Uzziah, a “lover of agriculture,” had farmers and vinedressers in Carmel (2 Chron. 26:10), and the remains of numerous rock-hewn wine and olive presses are found there. The prophets symbolized the disastrous effects of Jehovah’s adverse judgment against Israel by the withering up of Carmel’s abundant vegetation. (Isa. 33:9; Amos 1:2; Nah. 1:4) Its slopes, washed by the sea winds, still contain fruit orchards, olive groves and vines, and in the spring are carpeted with a magnificent display of flowers. The Shulammite maiden’s king in the Song of Solomon (7:5) likened her head to Carmel, the simile referring either to the luxuriance of her hair or to the way in which her shapely head rose majestically upon her neck. The majestic appearance of Carmel, particularly the headland that sweeps dramatically upward from the coast, even as Mount Tabor rises impressively in the Valley of Jezreel, was also used to represent the imposing figure of Nebuchadnezzar advancing to the conquest of Egypt.—Jer. 46:18.

      Carmel was evidently one of the principal places to which people of Samaria fled when seeking refuge. Though by no means the highest of the ranges, its sparse population, its dense forest cover, and also the numerous caves in the soft limestone of its rocky slopes, served to hide the refugees. Yet, the prophet Amos showed that such refuge would prove futile to those fleeing from Jehovah’s righteous judgment.—Amos 9:3.

      Carmel formed one of the boundary markers in the territory of the tribe of Asher. (Josh. 19:24-26) Historically, it figures primarily in the activities of the prophets Elijah and Elisha. It was to Mount Carmel that Elijah had King Ahab assemble the people to witness the test between Baal, represented by the 450 prophets of Baal, and the true God Jehovah, represented by Elijah. (1 Ki. 18:19-39) After the test, Elijah had the false prophets brought down to the torrent valley of Kishon, which courses along the eastern foot of Carmel before ending in the Bay of Acco, and there slaughtered them. (Vs. 40) From the summit of Carmel, Elijah prayed for the end of the three-and-a-half-year drought and from there his attendant saw the small cloud that was the precursor of the mighty rainstorm that followed. (Vss. 42-45; Jas. 5:17) From here Elijah ran perhaps as much as twenty miles (32.2 kilometers) to Jezreel, by Jehovah’s help outpacing Ahab’s chariot all the way.—1 Ki. 18:46.

      Elijah’s successor, Elisha, after their separation at the Jordan River, traveled to Carmel from Jericho via Bethel. (2 Ki. 2:15, 23, 25) Elisha was again at Mount Carmel when the woman of Shunem (a short distance N of Jezreel) came seeking his help for her dead child.—2 Ki. 4:8, 20, 25.

      2. A city in the mountainous region of Judah (Josh. 15:1, 48, 55), identified by most geographers with el-Kirmil some seven and a half miles (12.1 kilometers) S-SE of Hebron.

      King Saul erected a “monument [Hebrew, yadh]” at Carmel apparently commemorating his victory over the Amalekites. (1 Sam. 15:12) Although the Hebrew word yadh appearing in this text is usually translated “hand,” it can also refer to a “monument” or standing memorial, as is shown by the use of the accompanying verb phrase “was erecting” in connection with Saul’s act and by the fact that years later “Absalom’s Monument” or yadh is specifically called a “pillar.”—2 Sam. 18:18.

      At the time David was a fugitive from murderous Saul, “Nabal the Carmelite” (though apparently a resident of nearby Maon) grazed his large flocks in Carmel’s rolling mountainous pastoral regions. (1 Sam. 25:2; 30:5; 2 Sam. 2:2; 3:3) When Nabal refused to repay David’s protective forces with deserved provisions, the initiative and tact of Nabal’s wife, “Abigail the Carmelitess,” served to restrain David from possible bloodguilt. (1 Sam. 25:2-35) Abigail later became David’s wife.—1 Sam. 25:36-42; 27:3; 1 Chron. 3:1.

      “Hezro the Carmelite” was among the mighty men of David’s military forces.—2 Sam. 23:8, 35; 1 Chron. 11:26, 37.

  • Carmelite
    Aid to Bible Understanding
    • CARMELITE

      See CARMEL No. 2.

  • Carmi
    Aid to Bible Understanding
    • CARMI

      (Carʹmi) [vinedresser].

      1. A son of Reuben and the brother of Hanoch, Pallu and Hezron; forefather of the Carmites. Carmi, with the rest of Jacob’s household, came to Egypt in 1728 B.C.E.—Gen. 46:9; Ex. 6:14; Num. 26:6; 1 Chron. 5:3.

      2. Father of Achan; a descendant of Judah and Tamar through Zerah and Zabdi. (Josh. 7:1, 18) The designation “sons of Judah” at 1 Chronicles 4:1, where Carmi is listed, evidently is to be understood as including later descendants.—Compare 1 Chronicles 2:4-7.

  • Carmites
    Aid to Bible Understanding
    • CARMITES

      (Carʹmites).

      A family descended from Carmi, a son of Reuben.—Num. 26:5, 6.

  • Carob Pod
    Aid to Bible Understanding
    • CAROB POD

      [Gr., ke·raʹti·on].

      In the illustration of the prodigal son, Jesus describes the starving lad as desiring to eat the carob pods that were fed to the pigs. (Luke 15:16) These pods grow on the carob tree, an attractive evergreen that grows throughout Palestine as well as in the rest of the Mediterranean area. The tree reaches a height up to thirty feet (9 meters), with small glistening leaves resembling those of the ash. The fruit or pods have a shiny leathery shell of a purplish-brown color and, in harmony with their name in Greek (ke·raʹti·on, meaning “little horn”), have a curved horn shape. They measure from six to ten inches (15 to 25 centimeters) in length and about one inch (2.54 centimeters) wide. Inside are several pealike seeds separated from one another by a sweet sticky pulp.

      They are widely used till this day as a food for horses, cattle and pigs. The island of Cyprus alone now produces an annual crop of some thirty to forty thousand tons (27,216,000 to 36,288,000 kilograms) of carobs. Grafting of the trees is employed to produce a fruit of improved quality, equal in nutrition to wheat. People also eat them, and the dried-up pods are ground up and used in making candy. The ungrafted carob trees, however, produce fruit that is poor in sugar, thin and dry. It may be that the carob pods that Jesus had in mind in his illustration were of this kind. The carob tree is also known as the “locust tree,” and the pods are frequently called “Saint-John’s-bread” due to the erroneous idea that it was this fruit that John the Baptist ate, rather than insect locusts.

      At one time the beans of the carob tree (Gr., ke·ra·teʹa) were used as standards of weight, and hence the word “carat” is derived from their name.

  • Carpenter
    Aid to Bible Understanding
    • CARPENTER

      An artisan, craftsman or worker in wood. The Hebrew and Greek equivalents are general terms applying to an artificer in stone, iron or copper as well as wood. The context often determines the application.

      Noah and his three sons had much carpenter work to do in building the huge ark of wood of a resinous tree, according to the pattern given by Jehovah. (Gen. 6:14-16) Egyptian illustrations also show carpenters using saws and wood-carving instruments.

      The carpenter in Israel would be employed in building houses and buildings such as synagogues. Although buildings were for the most part made of stone or earth, some wood was used, for example, in beams and doors. The things constructed by the carpenter in Bible times included furniture, such as tables, stools and benches. In the construction of the tabernacle and its furnishings, Bezalel and Oholiab were especially guided by Jehovah God. His spirit accentuated their ability to do the finest work in wood, as well as other materials. (Ex. 31:2-11) Skilled workers in wood were brought from Tyre for the building of David’s house. (2 Sam. 5:11) Zerubbabel used carpenters in building the second temple in Jerusalem.—Ezra 3:7.

      The boats of the Tyrians were made of juniper and cypress, with masts of cedarwood and oars carved from wood. (Ezek. 27:5, 6) Ezra spoke standing on a podium made of wood. (Neh. 8:4) Many implements were partly or entirely made of wood, including plows, threshing sledges, and so forth. (2 Sam. 24:22) Some woodworkers also were carvers or sculptors. (Isa. 44:13) Idols were often carved of wood.—Deut. 29:17; 2 Ki. 19:18; Isa. 37:19; 45:20.

      Jesus was called, not only the “carpenter’s son” (Matt. 13:55), but the “carpenter” as well. (Mark 6:3) Since the Hebrew father usually taught his son his trade, Jesus no doubt learned carpentry from his foster-father Joseph.

  • Carpus
    Aid to Bible Understanding
    • CARPUS

      (Carʹpus) [possibly, fruit].

      A Christian residing at Troas, with whom Paul had left his cloak. Likely Carpus was Paul’s host when the apostle visited there.—2 Tim. 4:13.

  • Carshena
    Aid to Bible Understanding
    • CARSHENA

      (Car·sheʹna) [possibly, black].

      The first listed of the seven princes of Media and Persia consulted by Ahasuerus on the matter of Vashti’s disobedience.—Esther 1:14; see MEMUCAN.

  • Carving
    Aid to Bible Understanding
    • CARVING

      The art of sculpturing wood, stone, metal and clay is of great antiquity. Under the broad aspects of this subject, carving and engraving are terms used interchangeably to translate a number of Hebrew words. However, the most frequently used Hebrew word, peʹsel, occurs only with reference to carved or engraved images.

      The prohibition to Israel against making carved images for the purpose of worshiping them was first stated in the Decalogue (Ex. 20:4) and was later repeated. “Cursed is the man who makes a carved image.” (Deut. 27:15; 4:16, 23; 5:8) The prophets over and over again condemned the foolishness of making and worshiping carved idols. (Ps. 97:7; Isa. 42:17; 44:9-20; 45:20; Jer. 10:14, 15; Nah. 1:14; Hab. 2:18) For God’s covenant people to give reverential regard to carved images in their worship was to divide the exclusive devotion that was due Jehovah. So, whenever Israel fell away from God and worshiped the carvings of their own hands they understandably lost divine favor.—Judg. 18:18, 30, 31; 2 Ki. 21:7-9; 2 Chron. 33:7, 22; Ezek. 8:10; 23:14.

      On the other hand, the carving work done for the tabernacle and the great temple of Solomon was not to be worshiped but was intended for decorative purposes and to convey symbolic meaning. Jehovah himself commanded that these carvings be made, and God placed his spirit on Bezalel and Oholiab, the skilled craftsmen chosen to oversee the tabernacle construction. (Ex. 35:30, 31, 34) Objects such as the lampstand, the cherubs on the Ark’s cover, the engraving on the jewels of the breastpiece and the gold plate on the turban of the high priest, are some examples of carved objects of gold and precious stones in the tabernacle arrangement. (Ex. 25:18, 19, 31-40; 28:2, 21, 36) In Solomon’s temple there were cedarwood carvings of cherubs, palm-tree figures, blossoms and gourd-shaped ornaments, all overlaid with gold. (1 Ki. 6:18-35; 2 Chron. 2:7) Similarly, there was a great array of carvings in the pictorial temple envisioned by Ezekiel.—Ezek. 41:17-20.

      Because of the divine condemnation of carved idols and images for worship, it is no surprise that those found in Palestine by archaeologists show pagan origin or influence. Not only did the Israelites abstain from carving monuments of their great leaders, they also refrained from cutting reliefs depicting their military victories. However, reliefs, statues and other carved replicas from Egypt, Assyria, Babylonia and Persia shed light on the worship, warfare and daily life of those ancient people. Some of the more common things that have been found reveal that stone, clay, wood, glass, ivory, precious gems, bone, plaster, shell, metals, ebony and alabaster were used by the carver in making thrones, lions, columns, jewelry, signets and seals, sarcophagi, stone tablets, furniture, wall decorations and utensils.

      The Greek word en·ty·poʹo occurs only once, where Paul described the Law code as “engraved [a form of en·ty·poʹo] in letters in stones.”—2 Cor. 3:7.

  • Casiphia
    Aid to Bible Understanding
    • CASIPHIA

      (Ca·si·phiʹa) [possibly, place of silversmiths].

      A “place” evidently situated in Babylonia and apparently near the gathering point of the exiles returning with Ezra to Jerusalem in 468 B.C.E. (Ezra 8:17-20) Other than stating that it was the area from which Ezra recruited Levites and Nethinim while encamped at the river Ahava, the Bible does not precisely identify Casiphia as either a city or a district. Some authorities suggest Ctesiphon as the possible ancient site in view of the orthographical similarity and its suitable location on the Tigris River.

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