2. So Elijah went to present himself to Ahab.Now the famine in Samaria was severe,
3. and Ahab had summoned Obadiah, master of his palace, who greatly revered the Lord.
4. When Jezebel was slaughtering the prophets of the Lord, Obadiah took a hundred prophets, hid them away by fifties in caves, and supplied them with food and water.
5. Ahab said to Obadiah, “Go through the land to all sources of water and to all the wadis. We may find grass and keep the horses and mules alive, so that we shall not have to slaughter any of the beasts.”
6. Dividing the land to explore between them, Ahab went one way by himself, Obadiah another way by himself.
7. As Obadiah was on his way, Elijah met him. Recognizing him, Obadiah fell prostrate and asked, “Is it you, my lord Elijah?”
8. He said to him, “Yes. Go tell your lord, ‘Elijah is here!’”
9. But Obadiah said, “What sin has your servant committed, that you are handing me over to Ahab to be killed?
10. As the Lord, your God, lives, there is no nation or kingdom where my lord has not sent in search of you. When they replied, ‘He is not here,’ he made each kingdom and nation swear they could not find you.
11. And now you say, ‘Go tell your lord: Elijah is here!’
12. After I leave you, the spirit of the Lord will carry you to some place I do not know, and when I go to inform Ahab and he does not find you, he will kill me—though your servant has revered the Lord from his youth!
13. Have you not been told, my lord, what I did when Jezebel was murdering the prophets of the Lord—that I hid a hundred of the prophets of the Lord, fifty each in caves, and supplied them with food and water?
14. And now you say, ‘Go tell your lord: Elijah is here!’ He will kill me!”
15. Elijah answered, “As the Lord of hosts lives, whom I serve, I will present myself to him today.”
16. So Obadiah went to meet Ahab and informed him, and Ahab came to meet Elijah.
17. When Ahab saw Elijah, he said to him, “Is it you, you disturber of Israel?”
18. He answered, “It is not I who disturb Israel, but you and your father’s house, by forsaking the commands of the Lord and you by following the Baals.
19. Now summon all Israel to me on Mount Carmel, as well as the four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal and the four hundred prophets of Asherah who eat at Jezebel’s table.”
20. So Ahab summoned all the Israelites and had the prophets gather on Mount Carmel.