3 Ahab called Obadiah who was over the household . (Now Obadiah feared the Lord greatly ; 4 for when Jezebel destroyed the prophets of the Lord , Obadiah took a hundred prophets and hid them by fifties in a cave , and provided them with bread and water .) 5 Then Ahab said to Obadiah , "Go through the land to all the springs of water and to all the valleys ; perhaps we will find grass and keep the horses and mules alive , and not have to kill some of the cattle ." 6 So they divided the land between them to survey it; Ahab went one way by himself and Obadiah went another way by himself . 7 Now as Obadiah was on the way , behold , Elijah met him, and he recognized him and fell on his face and said , "Is this you, Elijah my master ?" 8 He said to him, "It is I. Go , say to your master , 'Behold , Elijah is here."' 9 He said , "What sin have I committed , that you are giving your servant into the hand of Ahab to put me to death ? 10 " As the Lord your God lives , there is no nation or kingdom where e my master has not sent to search for you; and when they said , 'He is not here,' he made the kingdom or nation swear that they could not find you. 11 "And now you are saying , 'Go , say to your master , "Behold , Elijah is here."' 12 "It will come about when I leave e you that the Spirit of the Lord will carry you where e I do not know ; 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 to my master what I did when Jezebel killed the prophets of the Lord , that I hid a hundred prophets of the Lord by fifties in a cave , and provided them with bread and water ? 14 "And now you are saying , 'Go , say to your master , "Behold , Elijah is here"'; he will then kill me." 15 Elijah said , " As the Lord of hosts lives , before whom I stand , I will surely show myself to him today ." 16 So Obadiah went to meet Ahab and told him; and Ahab went to meet Elijah .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on 1 Kings 18:3-16
Commentary on 1 Kings 18:1-16
(Read 1 Kings 18:1-16)
The severest judgments, of themselves, will not humble or change the hearts of sinners; nothing, except the blood of Jesus Christ, can atone for the guilt of sin; nothing, except the sanctifying Spirit of God, can purge away its pollution. The priests and the Levites were gone to Judah and Jerusalem, 2 Chronicles 11:13,14, but instead of them God raised up prophets, who read and expounded the word. They probably were from the schools of the prophets, first set up by Samuel. They had not the spirit of prophecy as Elijah, but taught the people to keep close to the God of Israel. These Jezebel sought to destroy. The few that escaped death were forced to hide themselves. God has his remnant among all sorts, high and low; and that faith, fear, and love of his name, which are the fruits of the Holy Spirit, will be accepted through the Redeemer. See how wonderfully God raises up friends for his ministers and people, for their shelter in difficult times. Bread and water were now scarce, yet Obadiah will find enough for God's prophets, to keep them alive. Ahab's care was not to lose all the beasts; but he took no care about his soul, not to lose that. He took pains to seek grass, but none to seek the favour of God; fencing against the effect, but not inquiring how to remove the cause. But it bodes well with a people, when God calls his ministers to stand forth, and show themselves. And we may the better endure the bread of affliction, while our eyes see our teachers.