Ahab called Obadiah who was the governor of his house. (Now Obadiah feared the LORD greatly; 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.) Then Ahab said to Obadiah, “Go into the land to all the sources of water and to all the streams; perhaps we may find grass and keep the horses and mules alive, and not have to kill some of the cattle.” So they divided the land between them to survey it. Ahab went one way by himself and Obadiah went another way by himself.
As Obadiah was on the way, behold, Elijah met him. He recognized him and fell face downward [out of respect] and said, “Is it you, my lord Elijah?” He answered him, “It is I. Go tell your master, ‘Elijah is here.’ ” But he said, “What sin have I committed, that you would hand over your servant to Ahab to put me to death? As the LORD your God lives, there is no nation or kingdom where my master has not sent messengers to seek you; and when they said, ‘He is not here,’ Ahab made the kingdom or nation swear that they had not found you. And now you are saying, ‘Go, tell your master, “Behold, Elijah [is here].” ’ And as soon as I leave you, the Spirit of the LORD will carry you to a place I do not know; so when I come to tell Ahab and he does not find you, he will kill me. Yet your servant has [reverently] feared the LORD from my youth. Has it not been told to my lord [Elijah] what I did when Jezebel killed the prophets of the LORD, how I hid a hundred of the LORD’S prophets by fifties in a cave, and provided them with bread and water? And now you are saying, ‘Go, tell your master, “Elijah is here” ’; and he will kill me.” Elijah said, “As the LORD of hosts (armies) lives, before whom I stand, I will certainly show myself to Ahab today.” So Obadiah went to meet Ahab and told him; and Ahab went to meet Elijah.
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