CARMEL (city) kär’ məl (כַּרְמֶ֖ל; LXX [1] Κάρμηλος, [2] Χέρμελ [Josh 15:55]; plantation, garden-land; by metonymy [fresh], fruit, garden-growth). A very ancient town in the mountains of Judah.

Carmel has been identified with modern Khirbet el Karmil (Kermel, Kurmul) c. seven and one-half m. (three hours) SSE of Hebron. It lies in a pastoral region of broad hills and wide valleys. Saul “set up a monument [יָ֔ד hand] for himself” (1 Sam 15:12); and Hezro, one of David’s mighty warriors, was a native of Carmel (2 Sam 23:35; 1 Chron 11:37). The foolish, wine-loving Nabal resided in this area with his beautiful wife, Abigail (1 Sam 25:2, 5, 40). Uzziah’s vineyards were prob. nearby (2 Chron 26:10). Judas Iscariot was from this region.

Bibliography D. Baly, The Geography of the Bible (1957), 164.