1 Kings 18:7

And as Obadiah was in the way, behold, Elijah met him: and he knew him, and fell on his face, and said, Art thou that my lord Elijah?

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(7) Art thou that . . .—The sense is either (as the LXX. has it) “Is it thy very self, my lord Elijah?” or (perhaps more suitably to the context), “Thou here, my lord Elijah,” when all seek thy life? The prophet’s answer is still simpler in its original brevity, “Behold, Elijah!” standing in dignified contrast with the humble and almost servile address of Obadiah, which is clearly the offspring not only of reverence, but of fear.

Benson Commentary

1 Kings 18:7-8. He knew him, and fell on his face — Showing his great respect and love to him, by this profound reverence. Art thou that my lord Elijah? — As Obadiah had showed the tenderness of a father to the sons of the prophets, so he showed the reverence of a son to this father of the prophets; and by this he made it appear, that he did indeed fear the Lord greatly, in that he did such honour to one that was God’s extraordinary ambassador, and had a great interest in heaven. Go tell thy lord, Behold, Elijah is here — Thus, though Ahab was a very wicked man, he owns him for Obadiah’s lord and king; thereby instructing us, that the wickedness of kings doth not exempt their subjects from obedience to their lawful commands.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

18:1-16 The severest judgments, of themselves, will not humble or change the hearts of sinners; nothing, except the blood of Jesus Christ, can atone for the guilt of sin; nothing, except the sanctifying Spirit of God, can purge away its pollution. The priests and the Levites were gone to Judah and Jerusalem, 2Ch 11:13,14, but instead of them God raised up prophets, who read and expounded the word. They probably were from the schools of the prophets, first set up by Samuel. They had not the spirit of prophecy as Elijah, but taught the people to keep close to the God of Israel. These Jezebel sought to destroy. The few that escaped death were forced to hide themselves. God has his remnant among all sorts, high and low; and that faith, fear, and love of his name, which are the fruits of the Holy Spirit, will be accepted through the Redeemer. See how wonderfully God raises up friends for his ministers and people, for their shelter in difficult times. Bread and water were now scarce, yet Obadiah will find enough for God's prophets, to keep them alive. Ahab's care was not to lose all the beasts; but he took no care about his soul, not to lose that. He took pains to seek grass, but none to seek the favour of God; fencing against the effect, but not inquiring how to remove the cause. But it bodes well with a people, when God calls his ministers to stand forth, and show themselves. And we may the better endure the bread of affliction, while our eyes see our teachers.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Unto all fountains of water and unto all brooks - Rather, "to all springs of water and to all torrent-courses." The former are the perennial streams; the latter are the torrent-courses which become dry in an ordinary summer.

All the beasts - Rather, some, or, "a portion of our beasts."

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

7-16. Obadiah was in the way … Elijah met him—Deeming it imprudent to rush without previous intimation into Ahab's presence, the prophet solicited Obadiah to announce his return to Ahab. The commission, with a delicate allusion to the perils he had already encountered in securing others of God's servants, was, in very touching terms, declined, as unkind and peculiarly hazardous. But Elijah having dispelled all the apprehensions entertained about the Spirit's carrying him away, Obadiah undertook to convey the prophet's message to Ahab and solicit an interview. But Ahab, bent on revenge, or impatient for the appearance of rain, went himself to meet Elijah.

Matthew Poole's Commentary

By this profound reverence showing his great respect and love to him.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

And as Obadiah was in the way,.... In his district, making his observations:

behold, Elijah met him: where is not said; but he was, no doubt, upon the road from Zarephath to Samaria:

and he knew him that is, Obadiah knew Elijah, having seen him at Ahab's court before he absconded:

and fell on his face, and said, art thou that my lord Elijah? thus doing him honour and reverence both by words and gesture, as being an extraordinary prophet of the Lord.

Geneva Study Bible

And as Obadiah was in the way, behold, Elijah {c} met him: and he knew him, and fell on his face, and said, Art thou that my lord Elijah?

(c) God often pities the wicked for the sake of the godly, and causes Elijah to meet with Obadiah, that the blessing might be known to be granted for the sake of God's children.

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

7–16. Meeting of Obadiah and Elijah (Not in Chronicles)

7. and he knew him] The prophet’s garb would probably make him easy to be recognized, and he must have been seen more than once in Samaria, and by Ahab’s household. The LXX. renders καὶ ἔσπευσε = and he hastened.

fell on his face] For to Obadiah Elijah would seem to be God’s special representative, and the champion of the cause of the true religion. Josephus, wrongly, represents Elijah as bowing down to Obadiah. The expressions ‘lord’ and ‘servant’ or rather ‘slave’ used by Obadiah are indexes of his fear of Elijah.

Art thou that my lord Elijah?] R.V. better, ‘Is it thou, my lord Elijah?’ The word which A.V. translates is merely an addition to render the pronoun emphatic. See note on 1 Kings 17:2-7, where the emphatic particle is the same as in this verse.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 7. - And as Obadiah Was in the way, behold, Elijah met him [Heb. to meet him]: and he knew [i.e., recognized. Same word, Genesis 27:23; Genesis 43:7, etc.] him, and fell on his face, and said, Art thou that [Heb. this, probably used adverbially (like hic) for here = בָּזֶה] my lord Elijah? [The humble obeisance and the terms in which he addresses him alike show the profound reverence with which Obadiah regarded him, as well he might do, considering the terrible power he wielded. The whole land was, so to speak, at his mercy.] 1 Kings 18:7

Keil and Delitzsch Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament

Elijah met Obadiah on this expedition, and told him to announce his coming to the king.