1 Now it happened1after manydays that the word of the LORDcame to Elijah in the thirdyear, saying, "Go, show yourself to Ahab, and 2I will sendrain on the face of the earth."
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So Elijahwent to show himself to Ahab. Now the famine was severe in Samaria.
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AhabcalledObadiah3who was over the household. (Now Obadiah4feared the LORDgreatly;
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for 5when Jezebeldestroyed the prophets of the LORD, Obadiahtook a hundredprophets and hid them by fifties in a cave, and 6provided them with bread and water.)
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Then Ahabsaid to Obadiah, "Go through the land to all the springs of water and to all the valleys; perhaps we will findgrass and keep the horses and mulesalive, and not have to killsome of the cattle."
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So they divided the land between them to survey it; Ahabwentoneway by himself and Obadiahwentanotherway by himself.
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Now as Obadiah was on the way, behold, Elijahmet him, 7and he recognized him and fell on his face and said, "Is this you, Elijah my master?"
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He said to him, "It is I. Go, say to your master, 'Behold, Elijah is here."'
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He said, "Whatsin have I committed, that you are giving your servant into the hand of Ahab to put me to death?
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"8As the LORD your Godlives, there is nonation or kingdomwhere* my master has not sent to search for you; and when they said, 'He is not here,' he made the kingdom or nationswear that they could not find you.
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"And now you are saying, 'Go, say to your master, "Behold, Elijah is here."'
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"It will come about when I leave* you 9that the Spirit of the LORD will carry you where* I do not know; so when I come and tellAhab and he cannotfind you, he will kill me, although I your servant have feared the LORD from my youth.
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"10Has it not been told to my masterwhat I did when Jezebelkilled the prophets of the LORD, that I hid a hundredprophets of the LORD by fifties in a cave, and provided them with bread and water?
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"And now you are saying, 'Go, say to your master, "Behold, Elijah is here"'; he will then kill me."
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Elijahsaid, "11As the LORD of hostslives, beforewhom I stand, I will surelyshow myself to him today."
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So Obadiahwent to meetAhab and told him; and Ahabwent to meetElijah.
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When AhabsawElijah, 12Ahabsaid to him, "Is this you, you troubler of Israel?"
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He said, "I have not troubledIsrael, but you and your father'shouse have, because 13you have forsaken the commandments of the LORD and 14you have followed* the Baals.
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"Now then send and gather to me allIsrael at 15MountCarmel, 16together with 450**prophets of Baal and 400*prophets of 17the Asherah, who eat at Jezebel'stable."