⁷ As Obadiah was traveling along, Elijah met him.^[a] When he recognized him, he fell facedown to the ground and said, “Is it really you, my master, Elijah?” ⁸ He replied, “Yes,^[b] go and say to your master, ‘Elijah is back.’”^{[c] 9} Obadiah^[d] said, “What sin have I committed that you are ready to hand your servant over to Ahab for execution?^{[e] 10} As certainly as the Lord your God lives, my master has sent to every nation and kingdom in an effort to find you. When they say, ‘He’s not here,’ he makes them^[f] swear an oath that they could not find you. ¹¹ Now you say, ‘Go and say to your master, “Elijah is back.”’^{[g] 12} But when I leave you, the Lord’s Spirit will carry you away so I can’t find you.^[h] If I go tell Ahab I’ve seen you, he won’t be able to find you and he will kill me.^[i] That would not be fair,^[j] because your servant has been a loyal follower of^[k] the Lord from my youth. ¹³ Certainly my master is aware of what I did^[l] when Jezebel was killing the Lord’s prophets. I hid 100 of the Lord’s prophets in two caves in two groups of fifty and I brought them food and water. ¹⁴ Now you say, ‘Go and say to your master, “Elijah is back,”’^[m] but he will kill me.” ¹⁵ But Elijah said, “As certainly as the Lord of Heaven’s Armies^[n] lives (whom I serve),^[o] I will make an appearance before him today.”

Elijah Confronts Baal’s Prophets

¹⁶ When Obadiah went and informed Ahab, the king went to meet Elijah.^[p]