Elijah Confronts Ahab and Prepares for Confrontation
1 Kings 18:1-15
1 K.18.1 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- ויהי: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- ימים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- רבים: ADJ,m,pl,abs
- ודבר: VERB,qal,fut,3,m,sg
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- היה: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- אל: NEG
- אליהו: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- בשנה: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- השלישית: ADJ,f,sg,def
- לאמר: INF,qal,infc
- לך: PRON,2,m,sg
- הראה: VERB,hiph,perf,3,m,sg
- אל: NEG
- אחאב: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ואתנה: VERB,qal,impf,1,sg
- מטר: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- על: PREP
- פני: NOUN,m,sg,cons
- האדמה: NOUN,f,sg,def
Parallels
- 1 Kings 17:1 (verbal): Elijah's original proclamation of a drought to Ahab—establishes the same drought context referred to in 18:1.
- 1 Kings 18:41-45 (structural): Immediate narrative continuation: Elijah appears before Ahab, prays, and rain is sent—fulfillment of the promise in 18:1.
- James 5:17-18 (allusion): New Testament reference to Elijah's drought and subsequent prayer for rain (three years and six months), echoing the OT account of withholding and restoring rain.
- 2 Chronicles 7:13-14 (thematic): Describes God closing and opening the heavens (causing drought or sending rain) in response to covenant faithfulness—parallels divine control over rain as judgment/mercy.
- Deuteronomy 11:14 (thematic): Covenantal promise that God will send rain in its season to bless the land—parallels God's declaration 'I will send rain upon the earth.'
Alternative generated candidates
- After many days the word of the LORD came to Elijah in the third year, saying, “Go, present yourself to Ahab, and I will send rain upon the face of the earth.”
- After many days the word of the LORD came to Elijah in the third year, saying, 'Go, present yourself before Ahab, and I will send rain upon the face of the earth.'
1 K.18.2 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- וילך: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- אליהו: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- להראות: VERB,qal,inf
- אל: NEG
- אחאב: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- והרעב: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,def
- חזק: ADJ,m,sg,abs
- בשמרון: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- 1 Kings 17:1 (thematic): Elijah first proclaims the drought to Ahab—this prophecy of no rain is the cause of the famine mentioned in 1 Kgs 18:2 and frames Elijah’s conflict with Ahab.
- 1 Kings 18:41–45 (structural): The immediate narrative resolution where Elijah prays for rain and the clouds bring the end of the famine; directly connected to Elijah’s appearance before Ahab and the severe famine in Samaria.
- 2 Kings 6:25 (thematic): A graphic description of famine in Samaria under siege; parallels the motif of extreme hunger and distress in the city found in 1 Kgs 18:2.
- James 5:17–18 (quotation): The NT explicitly cites Elijah’s praying that halted the rain (and later prayed for its return), referring to the same drought/famine period and Elijah’s role in ending it.
Alternative generated candidates
- So Elijah went to present himself to Ahab; and the famine was severe in Samaria.
- So Elijah went to present himself before Ahab; and the famine was severe in Samaria.
1 K.18.3 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- ויקרא: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- אחאב: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אל: NEG
- עבדיהו: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- אשר: PRON,rel
- על: PREP
- הבית: NOUN,m,sg,def
- ועבדיהו: CONJ+NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- היה: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- ירא: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- את: PRT,acc
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- מאד: ADV
Parallels
- Acts 10:2 (verbal): Cornelius is described as 'a devout man and one that feared God with all his house' — a New Testament parallel of a high-ranking official who 'feared the Lord' while living under a non‑Jewish/hostile regime, like Obadiah in Ahab's court.
- Daniel 1:8 (thematic): Daniel's resolve not to defile himself in Babylon parallels Obadiah's fidelity and reverence for YHWH while serving a pagan or hostile royal administration — faithful conduct motivated by fear/reverence of God.
- Genesis 39:9 (thematic): Joseph's refusal to sin against God while a servant in Potiphar's house reflects the same dynamic: a subordinate in a powerful household who 'fears' or honors God and acts accordingly.
- Daniel 3:16-18 (thematic): Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego's refusal to bow to the king's image exhibits faithfulness to God inside a royal court opposed to true worship, paralleling Obadiah's devotion amid Ahab's apostasy.
- 1 Kings 18:12 (structural): Immediate internal parallel: the following verse records how Obadiah's fear of the LORD led him to hide and supply prophets of YHWH — showing the practical outworking of his reverence while serving Ahab.
Alternative generated candidates
- Ahab called Obadiah, who was over the household; and Obadiah feared the LORD greatly.
- And Ahab called Obadiah, who was over the household; and Obadiah feared the LORD greatly.
1 K.18.4 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- ויהי: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- בהכרית: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- איזבל: NOUN,prop,f,sg
- את: PRT,acc
- נביאי: NOUN,m,pl,construct
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- ויקח: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- עבדיהו: NOUN,prop,m,sg
- מאה: NUM,f,sg,abs
- נבאים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- ויחביאם: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg,obj=3,pl
- חמשים: NUM,card,pl
- איש: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- במערה: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- וכלכלם: VERB,piel,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg,obj=3,pl
- לחם: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ומים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
Parallels
- 1 Kgs 18:13 (structural): Obadiah himself recounts that he hid a hundred prophets in caves — a direct narrative follow-up that confirms and elaborates the event reported in 18:4.
- 1 Kgs 22:27 (verbal): Ahab orders Micaiah to be fed with 'bread and water' in prison — a close verbal parallel to Obadiah’s provision of 'bread and water' to the hidden prophets, linking themes of concealment/imprisonment and basic sustenance.
- 1 Kgs 19:18 (thematic): God tells Elijah that 7,000 in Israel have not bowed to Baal — a thematic parallel emphasizing the preservation of a faithful remnant despite Jezebel’s persecution of prophets.
- 1 Kgs 21:10-15 (thematic): Jezebel’s orchestration of Naboth’s death exemplifies her willingness to eliminate opponents; provides immediate contextual background for her violent campaign against the Lord’s prophets described in 18:4.
Alternative generated candidates
- For when Jezebel had cut off the prophets of the LORD, Obadiah took a hundred of the LORD’s prophets and hid them—fifty in a cave—and sustained them with bread and water.
- For Jezebel had cut off the prophets of the LORD; and Obadiah took a hundred prophets and hid them, fifty by fifty, in a cave, and sustained them with bread and water.
1 K.18.5 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- ויאמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- אחאב: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אל: NEG
- עבדיהו: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- לך: PRON,2,m,sg
- בארץ: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,def
- אל: NEG
- כל: DET
- מעיני: PREP+NOUN,f,pl,abs+PRON,1,sg
- המים: NOUN,m,pl,def
- ואל: CONJ+PREP
- כל: DET
- הנחלים: NOUN,m,pl,def
- אולי: ADV
- נמצא: VERB,nip,perf,3,m,sg
- חציר: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ונחיה: CONJ+VERB,qal,impf,1,pl
- סוס: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ופרד: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ולוא: CONJ_NEG
- נכרית: VERB,niphal,perf,3,f,sg
- מהבהמה: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,def
Parallels
- 1 Kings 17:1 (structural): Same narrative context: Elijah announces a drought, which sets the scene for Ahab/Obadiah’s search for springs and pasture.
- Genesis 41:34-36 (thematic): Joseph’s preparation for famine to preserve people and livestock parallels Ahab’s effort to find grass and save horses and mules during scarce years.
- Psalm 104:10-11,14 (verbal): Imagery of God providing springs, watercourses and grass for cattle echoes the verse’s concern with springs and pasture for animals.
- Exodus 9:19-21 (thematic): Instruction to protect livestock from impending disaster (hail) parallels the practical effort here to seek water/grass to save animals from drought.
- Amos 4:7 (allusion): Prophetic description of withholding rain and causing crop failure connects thematically to the drought conditions motivating the search for springs and pasture.
Alternative generated candidates
- Ahab said to Obadiah, “Go through the land to all the springs and to all the streams; perhaps we may find some pasture so that we and the horses and mules may live, and not all the livestock be destroyed.”
- Ahab said to Obadiah, 'Go through the land to all the springs of water and to all the ravines; perhaps we may find grass, that we may preserve the horses and the mules and not destroy the livestock.'
1 K.18.6 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- ויחלקו: VERB,qal,imprf,3,m,pl
- להם: PREP+PRON,3,m,pl
- את: PRT,acc
- הארץ: NOUN,f,sg,def
- לעבר: INF,qal
- בה: PREP+PRON,3,f,sg
- אחאב: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- הלך: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- בדרך: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- אחד: NUM,card,m,sg
- לבדו: PREP+PRON,3,m,sg
- ועבדיהו: CONJ+PN,m,sg
- הלך: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- בדרך: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- אחד: NUM,card,m,sg
- לבדו: PREP+PRON,3,m,sg
Parallels
- Genesis 13:8-9 (thematic): Abram and Lot agree to 'separate' and divide the land between them, then go different directions—parallel of partitioning territory and parting ways to avoid conflict.
- Joshua 18:1-10 (structural): Passage describing the division and allocation of the land among the tribes (surveying and assigning portions)—a structural parallel to dividing territory for separate travel or occupation.
- Judges 1:2-4 (thematic): Tribal leaders consult and assign who will go up and possess particular areas, then set out in different directions—thematic parallel of distributing land/tasks and separating to carry them out.
- Luke 10:1 (thematic): Jesus sends out his followers in groups to go ahead into towns and places, covering different routes—thematic parallel of dividing personnel/territory so each goes a separate way.
Alternative generated candidates
- They divided the country between them to pass through it. Ahab went one way alone, and Obadiah went another way alone.
- They divided the country between them to pass through it: Ahab went one way by himself, and Obadiah went another way by himself.
1 K.18.7 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- ויהי: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- עבדיהו: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- בדרך: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- והנה: ADV
- אליהו: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- לקראתו: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs+PRON,3,m
- ויכרהו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg+OBJ,3,m,sg
- ויפל: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- על: PREP
- פניו: NOUN,m,pl,cons+3,m,sg
- ויאמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- האתה: PRON,2,m,sg,interr
- זה: PRON,dem,m,sg
- אדני: NOUN,m,sg,abs,1,sg
- אליהו: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- 2 Kings 2:12 (thematic): Elisha sees Elijah taken up, cries out and falls on his face (tears clothes, prostration) — similar physical prostration and emotional recognition of Elijah as prophet/leader.
- 2 Kings 4:27 (thematic): The Shunammite woman falls at Elisha's feet when she meets him — parallel motif of meeting a prophet, prostration, and urgent personal address.
- Judges 13:20-22 (thematic): Manoah and his wife fall on their faces after seeing the angel of the Lord — similar reaction of fear/respect and prostration on encountering a divine or prophetic figure.
- John 21:7 (verbal): The disciple recognizes the risen Jesus and declares, “It is the Lord!” — parallels the sudden recognition and vocative identification ('Is this Elijah?/Is this my lord Elijah?').
- 1 Kings 18:17 (structural): Ahab’s immediate confrontation with Elijah in the next verse contrasts Obadiah’s prostrate recognition — the adjacent scene offers a structural parallel in differing human responses to Elijah’s appearance.
Alternative generated candidates
- As Obadiah was on the road, behold, Elijah met him. Obadiah recognized him, fell on his face, and said, “Is this my lord Elijah?”
- As Obadiah was on his way, behold, Elijah met him. Recognizing him, he fell on his face and said, 'Is this my lord Elijah?'
1 K.18.8 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- ויאמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- לו: PRON,3,m,sg
- אני: PRON,1,sg
- לך: PRON,2,m,sg
- אמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- לאדניך: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs+PRON,2,m,sg
- הנה: PART
- אליהו: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- 1 Kgs 17:1 (allusion): Earlier introduction of Elijah as the prophet who brings the drought — both verses revolve around identifying Elijah and his prophetic role in the narrative.
- 1 Kgs 18:9-12 (structural): Immediate continuation of the same exchange: Obadiah explains his encounter with Elijah and why he feared to tell Ahab directly; 18:8 is part of this dialogue and the same narrative unit.
- 1 Kgs 18:17-18 (verbal): Ahab's direct confrontation with Elijah ('Is that you, O troubler of Israel?') follows the identification/reporting in 18:8 and shows the royal response to Elijah’s presence.
- 2 Kgs 1:9-12 (thematic): A parallel episode where royal messengers seek out Elijah and report his presence to the king (Ahaziah); similar dynamic of a prophet as the focus of a royal inquiry and confrontation.
Alternative generated candidates
- He answered, “It is I; go, tell your master, ‘Elijah is here.’”
- He answered him, 'It is he; go, tell your lord,
1 K.18.9 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- ויאמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- מה: PRON,int
- חטאתי: VERB,qal,perf,1,m,sg
- כי: CONJ
- אתה: PRON,2,m,sg
- נתן: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- את: PRT,acc
- עבדך: NOUN,m,sg,abs,2,ms
- ביד: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- אחאב: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- להמיתני: VERB,hiphil,inf,1,sg
Parallels
- 1 Kgs 19:10 (structural): Same narrative cycle (Elijah/prophetic conflict); Elijah later laments that ‘they seek my life to take it,’ echoing the danger of being handed over to Ahab to be killed.
- Ps 31:13–14 (verbal): The psalmist complains that enemies ‘take counsel together… to take away my life,’ language that parallels the fear of being delivered into the hand of a persecutor to be killed.
- Dan 6:6–16 (allusion): A later example of a righteous servant threatened by a king’s decree and ‘handed over’ to death (the lion’s den), reflecting the motif of loyal service putting one at mortal risk.
- Ps 44:22 (thematic): Speaks of being ‘killed all the day long’ and suffering for God’s sake, connecting to the theme of faithful service that results in persecution or threat of death.
Alternative generated candidates
- Obadiah said, “What have I done that you would give your servant into the hand of Ahab to put me to death?
1 K.18.10 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- חי: ADJ,m,sg
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- אלהיך: NOUN,m,sg,prsuf-2ms
- אם: CONJ
- יש: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- גוי: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- וממלכה: CONJ+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- אשר: PRON,rel
- לא: PART_NEG
- שלח: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- אדני: NOUN,m,sg,abs,1,sg
- שם: ADV
- לבקשך: PREP+VERB,qal,inf+2ms
- ואמרו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- אין: PART,neg
- והשביע: CONJ+VERB,hif,perf,3,m,sg
- את: PRT,acc
- הממלכה: NOUN,f,sg,def
- ואת: CONJ
- הגוי: NOUN,m,sg,def
- כי: CONJ
- לא: PART_NEG
- ימצאכה: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg+2ms
Parallels
- 1 Kings 18:11–13 (structural): Immediate context: continues Obadiah’s report that messengers searched the whole land for Elijah and explains he had hidden prophets in caves — direct continuation of the same episode (same language of searching and hiding).
- Psalm 139:7–12 (thematic): Contrasts human searching with divine omnipresence: while people search 'every nation/kingdom' for a person, the psalm stresses there is nowhere to hide from God — a thematic echo about searching and hidden places.
- 1 Samuel 24:3–7 (thematic): Saul and his men search the hills for David and enter a cave where David is hiding; the scene parallels royal searches across the countryside and the motif of fugitives/prophets hiding in caves.
- Acts 9:23–25 (thematic): Paul’s opponents plot to kill him and guards watch the city gates, but he is let down and escapes — a New Testament parallel to authorities searching widely for a sought person and that person eluding capture.
Alternative generated candidates
- As the LORD your God lives, there is no nation or kingdom to which my lord has not sent to seek you; and when they said, ‘He is not there,’ he made the nation and the people swear that they had not found you.
1 K.18.11 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- ועתה: CONJ
- אתה: PRON,2,m,sg
- אמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- לך: PRON,2,m,sg
- אמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- לאדניך: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs+PRON,2,m,sg
- הנה: PART
- אליהו: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- 1 Kings 18:12 (structural): Direct continuation of the same exchange (Obadiah to Elijah): explains Obadiah’s fear that if he tells Ahab ‘Behold, Elijah’ and Elijah is not found, the servant will be killed (and the Spirit might carry Elijah away).
- 1 Kings 18:13 (structural): Immediate context giving the reason for the hesitation — Obadiah explicitly states his fear that Ahab will kill him if Elijah is not delivered to him when he reports ‘Behold, Elijah.’
- 1 Kings 18:1 (structural): Sets the scene for the encounter: God’s command to Elijah to present himself to Ahab after the famine, which precipitates the risky reporting described in v.11–13.
- Malachi 4:5–6 (thematic): Background prophetic expectation that Elijah would return; the motif of ‘Elijah’s presence/coming’ shapes how people react to news of Elijah (heightened significance and danger).
- Matthew 17:10–13 (cf. Mark 9:11–13) (thematic): New Testament discussion of Elijah’s coming (John the Baptist as Elijah) shows continued Jewish expectation about Elijah’s appearance, illuminating why identifying someone as ‘Elijah’ (or announcing his presence) carries heavy theological and social implications.
Alternative generated candidates
- And now you say, ‘Go, tell your master, “Elijah is here,”’
1 K.18.12 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- והיה: VERB,qal,imperfect,3,m,sg
- אני: PRON,1,sg
- אלך: VERB,qal,impf,1,_,sg
- מאתך: PREP+PRON,2,ms
- ורוח: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- ישאך: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg,suff:2,m,sg
- על: PREP
- אשר: PRON,rel
- לא: PART_NEG
- אדע: VERB,qal,imperfect,1,_,sg
- ובאתי: CONJ+VERB,qal,perf,1,sg
- להגיד: INF,hiph
- לאחאב: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,prop
- ולא: CONJ
- ימצאך: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg,suff:2,m,sg
- והרגני: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- ועבדך: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,abs-2ms
- ירא: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- את: PRT,acc
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- מנערי: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,poss1
Parallels
- 2 Kings 2:11 (verbal): Elijah is literally taken up by a whirlwind and the LORD (or his Spirit) in 2 Kgs 2:11; language and motif echo the idea that the Spirit of the LORD might carry a prophet away.
- 2 Kings 2:16-18 (structural): Search parties sent to find Elijah fail to locate him because he has been taken up—narrative fulfilment of Obadiah’s fear that Elijah could be removed and thus not found by Ahab.
- Acts 8:39-40 (verbal): The Spirit of the Lord suddenly seizes Philip and transports him (’the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away’), a New Testament instance of divine transport language parallel to ‘the Spirit of the LORD will carry you.’
- Ezekiel 3:12-14 (thematic): Ezekiel repeatedly describes being moved, lifted or carried by the Spirit (’the Spirit entered me… lifted me up’), reflecting the prophetic motif of divine transportation and control expressed in 1 Kgs 18:12.
Alternative generated candidates
- and when I go from you, the Spirit of the LORD may carry you where I do not know; and when I go to tell Ahab and he does not find you, he will kill me—yet your servant fears the LORD from his youth.
1 K.18.13 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- הלא: PART
- הגד: VERB,qal,perf,2,m,sg
- לאדני: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,m,poss1s
- את: PRT,acc
- אשר: PRON,rel
- עשיתי: VERB,qal,perf,1,_,sg
- בהרג: PREP+VERB,qal,inf
- איזבל: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- את: PRT,acc
- נביאי: NOUN,m,pl,const
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- ואחבא: VERB,qal,perf,1,?,sg
- מנביאי: PREP
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- מאה: NUM,f,sg,abs
- איש: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- חמשים: NUM,card,pl
- חמשים: NUM,card,pl
- איש: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- במערה: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- ואכלכלם: VERB,piel,perf,1,?,sg
- לחם: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ומים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
Parallels
- 1 Kings 18:4 (verbal): Direct earlier statement of the same situation: Jezebel had cut off the prophets of the LORD, and Obadiah had hidden a number of the LORD’s prophets — echoes the report in 18:13 about hiding and feeding prophets.
- 1 Kings 19:2 (thematic): After Elijah’s victory on Mount Carmel Jezebel threatens to kill him; parallels the motif of Jezebel’s persecution of the LORD’s prophets and the danger to God’s servants mentioned in 18:13.
- 1 Kings 19:14 (thematic): Elijah’s complaint that ‘I only am left’ after the persecution of prophets parallels the sense of extermination and isolation conveyed in Obadiah’s report about Jezebel killing the LORD’s prophets.
- 1 Kings 19:18 (allusion): God’s later revelation that 7,000 in Israel had not bowed to Baal offers a theological counterpoint to the claim in 18:13 about prophets being slain/hidden, showing preservation of a remnant despite persecution.
Alternative generated candidates
- Did I not tell my lord what I did when Jezebel killed the LORD’s prophets? I took a hundred of the LORD’s prophets and hid fifty in a cave, and fed them with bread and water.
1 K.18.14 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- ועתה: CONJ
- אתה: PRON,2,m,sg
- אמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- לך: PRON,2,m,sg
- אמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- לאדניך: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs+PRON,2,m,sg
- הנה: PART
- אליהו: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- והרגני: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
Parallels
- 1 Kings 18:13 (verbal): Immediate context — Obadiah explains he hid the LORD’s prophets and that revealing Elijah’s presence would expose him to death (repeats the concern that 'they would kill me').
- 1 Kings 18:17–18 (structural): Directly continues the same episode: Ahab and Elijah confront one another immediately after Obadiah’s report, linking the accusation and the danger surrounding Elijah’s presence in the court.
- 1 Kings 19:2–4 (thematic): After Mount Carmel Jezebel threatens Elijah’s life and he flees; Elijah later laments that they 'seek my life to take it' (parallels the fear of lethal reprisal expressed in 18:14).
- 1 Kings 22:26–27 (thematic): Micaiah is arrested and threatened by Ahab for prophesying against the king — another instance where a prophet (or one who reports/assists a prophet) faces royal retribution for speaking truth to power.
Alternative generated candidates
- And now you say, ‘Go, tell your master, “Elijah is here,”’ and he will kill me.”
1 K.18.15 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- ויאמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- אליהו: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- חי: ADJ,m,sg
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- צבאות: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- אשר: PRON,rel
- עמדתי: VERB,qal,perf,1,sg
- לפניו: PREP+PRON,3,m,sg
- כי: CONJ
- היום: NOUN,m,sg,def
- אראה: VERB,qal,impf,1,_,sg
- אליו: PREP+PRON,3,m,sg
Parallels
- 1 Kings 17:1 (verbal): Nearly identical oath-formula: Elijah uses 'As the LORD God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand,' echoing the same claim of standing before Yahweh.
- 1 Kings 18:36–38 (structural): Immediate narrative parallel in the Mount Carmel confrontation—Elijah's public prayer and God's answering by fire fulfill his declaration that he would 'show himself' that day.
- 1 Samuel 17:46 (thematic): David's challenge that the battle will prove that 'there is a God in Israel' parallels Elijah's intention to demonstrate Yahweh's reality and power publicly.
- James 5:17–18 (allusion): New Testament reference to Elijah's effective, answered prayers underscores the theme of Elijah's unique standing before God and God's responsiveness to him.
Alternative generated candidates
- Elijah said, “As the LORD of hosts lives, before whom I stand, I will surely appear to him today.”
After many days the word of the LORD came to Elijah in the third year, saying, 'Go, show yourself to Ahab; I will send rain upon the face of the earth.'
Elijah went to show himself to Ahab; and the famine was severe in Samaria.
Ahab called Obadiah, who was over his household; and Obadiah feared the LORD greatly.
When Jezebel had cut off the prophets of the LORD, Obadiah took a hundred of the LORD's prophets and hid them, fifty in a cave, and fed them with bread and water. And Ahab said to Obadiah, 'Go through the land, to all the springs and to all the brooks; perhaps we may find pasturage and keep the horses and mules alive, and not have to put any of the animals to death.'
They divided the country between them; Ahab went one way by himself, and Obadiah went another way by himself.
As Obadiah was on his way, Elijah met him; and when Obadiah saw him, he fell on his face and said, 'Is this my lord Elijah?'
He answered him, 'It is he; go, tell your lord, Behold, Elijah.'
Obadiah said, 'What have I sinned, that you would put your servant into the hand of Ahab to kill me?'
As the LORD your God lives, there was no nation or kingdom to which my lord did not send to seek you; and when they said, "He is not there," he made the nation and kingdom swear that they had not found you. And now you say, 'Go, tell your lord, Behold, Elijah.' But when I go from you, the spirit of the LORD may carry you away and I will not know where he is; and when I go and tell Ahab and he does not find you, he will kill me—yet your servant fears the LORD from my youth.
Did I not tell my lord what I did when Jezebel slew the prophets of the LORD? I hid a hundred of the LORD's prophets, fifty in a cave, and fed them with bread and water. And now you say, 'Go, tell your lord, Behold, Elijah'—and he will kill me.
Elijah said, 'As the LORD of hosts lives, before whom I stand, I will surely show myself to him today.'