1 Kings 18:1-15

New International Reader's Version

Elijah and Obadiah

18 It was now three years since it had rained. A message came to Elijah from the Lord. He said, “Go. Speak to Ahab. Then I will send rain on the land.” ²So Elijah went to speak to Ahab.

There wasn’t enough food in Samaria. The people there were very hungry. ³Ahab had sent for Obadiah. He was in charge of Ahab’s palace. Obadiah had great respect for the Lord. ⁴Ahab’s wife Jezebel had been killing off the Lord’s prophets. So Obadiah had hidden 100 prophets in two caves. He had put 50 in each cave. He had supplied them with food and water. ⁵Ahab had said to Obadiah, “Go through the land. Go to all the valleys and springs of water. Maybe we can find some grass there. It will keep the horses and mules alive. Then we won’t have to kill any of our animals.” ⁶So they decided where each of them would look. Ahab went in one direction. Obadiah went in another.

⁷As Obadiah was walking along, Elijah met him. Obadiah recognized him. He bowed down to the ground. He said, “My master Elijah! Is it really you?”

⁸“Yes,” he replied. “Go and tell your master Ahab, ‘Elijah is here.’ ”

⁹“What have I done wrong?” asked Obadiah. “Why are you handing me over to Ahab to be put to death? ¹⁰My master has sent people to look for you everywhere. There isn’t a nation or kingdom where he hasn’t sent someone to look for you. Suppose a nation or kingdom would claim you weren’t there. Then Ahab would make them give their word that they couldn’t find you. And that’s just as sure as the Lord your God is alive. ¹¹But now you are telling me to go to my master. You want me to say, ‘Elijah is here.’ ¹²But the Spirit of the Lord might carry you away when I leave you. Then I won’t know where you are. If I go and tell Ahab and he doesn’t find you, he’ll kill me. But I’ve worshiped the Lord ever since I was young. ¹³My master, haven’t you heard what I did? Jezebel was killing the Lord’s prophets. But I hid 100 of them in two caves. I put 50 in each cave. I supplied them with food and water. ¹⁴And now you are telling me to go to my master Ahab. You want me to say to him, ‘Elijah is here.’ Ahab will kill me!”