1 Kings 18:4-14

4 and 1when Jezebel cut off the prophets of the LORD, Obadiah took a hundred prophets and hid them by fifties in a cave and fed them with bread and water.)
5 And Ahab said to Obadiah, "Go through the land to all the springs of water and to all the valleys. Perhaps we may find grass and save the horses and mules alive, and not lose some of the animals."
6 So they divided the land between them to pass through it. Ahab went in one direction by himself, and Obadiah went in another direction by himself.
7 And as Obadiah was on the way, behold, Elijah met him. And Obadiah recognized him and fell on his face and said, "Is it you, my lord Elijah?"
8 And he answered him, "It is I. Go, tell your lord, 'Behold, Elijah is here.'"
9 And he said, "How have I sinned, that you would give your servant into the hand of Ahab, to kill me?
10 2As the LORD your God lives, there is no nation or kingdom where my lord has not sent to seek you. And when they would say, 'He is not here,' he would take an oath of the kingdom or nation, that they had not found you.
11 And now you say, 'Go, tell your lord, "Behold, Elijah is here."'
12 And as soon as I have gone from you, 3the Spirit of the LORD will carry you I know not where. And so, when I come and tell Ahab and he cannot find you, he will kill me, although I your servant have feared the LORD from my youth.
13 Has it not been told my lord what I did 4when Jezebel killed the prophets of the LORD, how I hid a hundred men of the LORD's prophets by fifties in a cave and fed them with bread and water?
14 And now you say, 'Go, tell your lord, "Behold, Elijah is here"'; and he will kill me."

1 Kings 18:4-14 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO 1 KINGS 18

In this chapter Elijah has an order from the Lord to show himself to Ahab, who, going first, and meeting with a servant of his, Obadiah, charges him to tell his master where he was, that he might meet him, 1Ki 18:1-16, and, upon meeting him, desires that all Israel, and the prophets of Baal, might be convened, which was accordingly done, 1Ki 18:17-20, when he expostulated with the people of Israel for their idolatry, mocked and confounded the prophets of Baal, and gave the strongest proofs, to the conviction of the people, that Jehovah is the true God, 1Ki 18:21-39, on which all the prophets of Baal were slain, 1Ki 18:40, and rain in great abundance was given at the prayer of the prophet, 1Ki 18:41-46.

Cross References 4

  • 1. ver. 13
  • 2. See 1 Kings 17:1
  • 3. 2 Kings 2:16; Ezekiel 3:12, 14; Ezekiel 8:3; Acts Ezekiel 8:39
  • 4. ver. 4
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.