1 Kings 18:13

1Ki 18:13 Was it not told my lord what I did when Jezebel slew the prophets of the LORD, how I hid an hundred men of the LORD’S prophets by fifty in a cave, and fed them with bread and water?

Ver. 13. How I hid a hundred men of the Lord’s prophets.] So did Hulderic Hutten, Silvester de Schavenburg, and Franciscus a Sickingen, noble gentlemen of Germany, hide and feed Oecolampadins, Bucer, Luther, and other godly divines in those worst of times, when the Pope was in his greatest power. {a} Of Dr Chatterton {b} it is recorded, that if he heard of any godly minister that was in want, he would send them forty or fifty shillings at a time.

{a} Melch. Adam., in Vit. Schwebel.

{b} His Life by Mr Clark.

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Verse 13. When Jezebel slew the prophets] This persecution was probably during the dearth, for as this bad woman would attribute the public calamity to Elijah, not being able to find him, she would naturally wreak her vengeance on the prophets of Jehovah who were within her reach.

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

13. Was it not told my lord] Obadiah’s thought seems to be that Elijah could believe nothing but evil of one who was in the household of Ahab. So by a question he tries to place himself in his true light, and to excuse himself at the same time, from being sent on so perilous an errand. The conduct of Obadiah in saving the prophets can hardly have been known to Ahab or his wife. But it would be likely to come to the knowledge of Elijah, as he would be a companion and friend of those who were rescued from Jezebel’s fury.

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

And Elijah said, as the Lord of hosts liveth, before whom I stand,.... In whose presence he was, and whose prophet and minister he was; he takes this oath, to assure Obadiah that he would certainly be upon the spot, or to be found, and not expose him to any danger:

I will surely show myself unto him today; he was determined at all events to present himself to him that day.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

A hundred. Hence we may judge how numerous they were. These prophets were not perhaps all inspired: but they had such at their head; and spent their time in working and in the divine praises. They were the salt and light of the earth, the pillars of the true religion, against whom Jezabel bent all her fury, during the first years of the drought. (Calmet)

George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).

13. Was it not told — So his hiding of the prophets had been reported to Ahab, but, perhaps, not to Jezebel. His tamer spirit would not rush to the extremes to which her fiery nature carried her, and he might naturally wish to check somewhat her persecution of the prophets. But Obadiah fears that if the king suspects him of intimacy with Elijah nothing will save him from the fury of Ahab’s wrath.

Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Was it not told my lord what I did when Jezebel slew the prophets of the Lord how I hid a hundred men of Heb. from the Lord"s prophets by fifty in a cave, and fed them with bread and water? Stanley happily calls Obadiah "the Sebastian of this Jewish Diocletian."

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.