Rehoboam and Jeroboam both led Israel more deeply into idolatry. Jeroboam erected golden calves, the statues of the Egyptian god Apis, at Bethel and at Dan. To their use temples were devoted and services, copied probably from the Mosaic ritual, were held. Incense and sacrifice was offered before them. Asa, and Jehosophat after him, removed all the relics of idolatry. With Ahab’s coming to the throne, Baal’s worship was re-established. This was done at the request of Jezebel, the Sidonian princess. Ahab did “more to provoke Jehovah, God of Israel, to anger than all the kings of Israel before him.” From this time Baal-worship is interwoven with all the life of Israel. The idolatrous priests became more and more numerous and important, being patronized by the court and fed at the royal table. Finally came the grand trial scene. As in Egypt long before, God was once more about to vindicate His supremacy. On Mount Carmel the trial took place. “By scores, by hundreds, chanting to their god, Clad in white stoles with frontlets of red gold, Baal’s prophets marched. The crowd through all its myriad ranks was still, With wide, expectant eyes the king in front. Forth stepped Elijah; melancholy fire Burned in his swarthy-glowing eye; he looked In angry love, impatient, scornful grief, Wonder and pity, on the multitude. ‘How long,’ he cried, with voice like autumn blast, ‘How long, O Israel, halt ye between two? If Jah be God, then serve ye Him: if Baal, Then Baal.’ The great crowd stretched to him, and rocked In mighty agitation to and fro. The gray crags caught his words, and echoed them To Carmel’s crest; it threw them to the peak, Snow-crowned, of Lebanon, which tossed them far Along the surges of the boundless sea. He spake again: ‘The God that answereth By fire, let Him be God.’ As when a wave, That rears itself, a wall of polished glass, For leagues along the shore, and hangs in air, Falls with one deafening crash, so rose the shout Of answering acclamation from the crowd. White-faced, with restless lips and anxious eyes, Baal’s prophets heard, their hundreds cowed and mute Before one man. They dared not, in mere shame, Decline the challenge. While the dusky gray Of earliest dawn was fluttering into blue They built their altar; and when first the sun Showed his clear forehead on the mountain-tops Their chanted prayer to the appearing Baal Rose loud and shrill, that he would stretch his hand With burning torch to light the sacrifice And prove himself a god. The sun rose calm, Springing as if in joy from earth’s low hills, Upon the vaulted radiance of the sky, All unregarding these his worshipers. The hymns’ last echoes died away; the sun Burned with fierce heat, swift striding up the blue. Standing on that scorched hill, we felt his rays Prick like sharp spear-points.