Useful Bible Studies > 1 Kings Commentary > chapter 18
It was King Ahab’s wife, Jezebel, who persuaded Ahab to carry out many of his most wicked acts. It was not enough for her to make the religion of Baal into the main religion for northern and central Israel. She also wanted to kill anyone who was still loyal to the true God.
The word ‘prophet’ usually means a holy person who receives messages from God. However, here the passage seems to use the word in a more general sense. Obadiah hid 100 people who are here called ‘prophets’. These were not all the principal prophets in the nation, although perhaps they included men like Micaiah (22:8). Many of them may have been students of the prophets, who are themselves called prophets (20:35-36). All of them were people who obeyed God’s law; in other words, they followed the messages that the prophets taught.
Obadiah was an important official in Ahab’s government, and he himself was loyal to Israel’s God. He realised the danger that these people were in. So, he acted to save their lives, at a great risk to his own life.
There are many large caves in Israel. David hid in such a cave when his own life was in danger (1 Samuel 22:1-2). It seems that Obadiah was an expert on the geography of Israel (compare 1 Kings 18:5-6). He knew the safest caves where these people could hide. He made secret arrangements for them to receive the basic food and water that they needed. Clearly, it was too dangerous for them to leave the caves for any purpose at this time. However, after some time, it seems that the danger became less. Perhaps then they either returned home, or they escaped into Judah.
Next part: Ahab and Obadiah search for grass (1 Kings 18:5-6)
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