The answer is: 400

1 Ki 18:19 - There were also 450 prophets of Baal present as well as the 400 prophets of Asherah... 850 in total.

When Elijah took a stand against the prophets of Baal and Asherah on Mount Carmel, the drama wasn’t just in numbers but also in the significance of the names. Each prophet represented a different approach to divinity—while Elijah championed what we might call a more monotheistic understanding of God, the 400 prophets of Asherah represented the polytheistic beliefs prevalent in the Israelite kingdom at the time.

Fun trivia: Asherah is often associated with fertility and was quite popular in ancient Near Eastern religions. The Israelites even revered her at times, showing a rather complicated picture of their faith and practices.

Now, that number, 850, puts things into perspective, doesn’t it? It wasn't just Elijah quietly voicing disappointment; it was a showdown! Imagine the vibe on that mountain—one lonely prophet against a whole band of 850 seems intimidating, but Elijah's faith powered him through.

This episode didn’t just change the people of Israel that day but was significant in the larger narrative of the Hebrew scriptures. It shows the humanity in the struggle between faith, doubt, and divine revelation. Moments like this echo through time; they remind us that regardless of how steep the odds seem, the defining factor can often be one's integrity and faithfulness to one's experience of truth.

Pretty engaging to think about how such ancient stories still resonate today in our understandings of belief and practice!