Atomic Bible

Ahab's palace administrator, protected prophets

Obadiah

Named in 6 verses of 1 Kings, first in 1 Kings 18:3.

עֹבַדְיָ֫הוּObadiah

The name means “servant of the Lord.” Hitchcock's Bible Names, 1869

About Obadiah Written by AI

Obadiah was a palace administrator during the reign of King Ahab of Israel (1 Kings 18:3). He was described as a devout believer in the Lord (1 Kings 18:3). When Jezebel, Ahab's wife, was killing off the prophets of the Lord, Obadiah took a hundred prophets and hid them in two caves, supplying them with food and water (1 Kings 18:4). During a severe famine, Ahab sent Obadiah to search for grass to keep the horses and mules alive (1 Kings 18:5 to 6). While on this mission, Obadiah encountered the prophet Elijah and helped arrange a meeting between Elijah and Ahab (1 Kings 18:7 to 16). Obadiah's actions demonstrate his courage and commitment to God, even while serving in a high position under a king who had turned away from the Lord.

Drafted by an AI model for STEPBible's TIPNR (Tyndale House Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). Check it against the verses below.

Easton's Bible Dictionary, 1897

This entry is on the name Obadiah, and may cover more than one person or place by that name.

Servant of the Lord. (1.) An Israelite who was chief in the household of King Ahab (1 Kings 18:3). Amid great spiritual degeneracy he maintained his fidelity to God, and interposed to protect The Lord’s prophets, an hundred of whom he hid at great personal risk in a cave (4, 13). Ahab seems to have held Obadiah in great honour, although he had no sympathy with his piety (5, 6, 7). The last notice of him is his bringing back tidings to Ahab that Elijah, whom he had so long sought for, was at hand (9-16). “Go,” said Elijah to him, when he met him in the way, “go tell thy lord, Behold, Elijah is here.”

(2.) A chief of the tribe of Issachar (1 Chr. 7:3).

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(3.) A descendant of Saul (1 Chr. 8:38).

(4.) A Levite, after the Captivity (1 Chr. 9:16).

(5.) A Gadite who joined David at Ziklag (1 Chr. 12:9).

(6.) A prince of Zebulun in the time of David (1 Chr. 27:19).

(7.) One of the princes sent by Jehoshaphat to instruct the people in the law (2 Chr. 17:7).

(8.) A Levite who superintended the repairs of the temple under Josiah (2 Chr. 34:12).

(9.) One who accompanied Ezra on the return from Babylon (Ezra 8:9).

(10.) A prophet, fourth of the minor prophets in the Hebrew canon, and fifth in the LXX. He was probably contemporary with Jeremiah and Ezekiel. Of his personal history nothing is known.

M. G. Easton, Illustrated Bible Dictionary, third edition (1897), public domain, from CrossWire. Shown as written; its Scripture quotes are from older translations.

GenesisMatthewRevelation

Where the Bible names him

  1. 1 Kings 18:3

    and Ahab summoned Obadiah, who was in charge of the palace. (Now Obadiah greatly feared the LORD,

  2. 1 Kings 18:4

    for when Jezebel had slaughtered the prophets of the LORD, Obadiah had taken a hundred prophets and hidden them, fifty men per cave, providing them with food and water.)

  3. 1 Kings 18:5

    Then Ahab said to Obadiah, “Go throughout the land to every spring and every valley. Perhaps we will find grass to keep the horses and mules alive so that we will not have to destroy any livestock.”

  4. 1 Kings 18:6

    So they divided the land to explore. Ahab went one way by himself, and Obadiah went the other way by himself.

  5. 1 Kings 18:7

    Now as Obadiah went on his way, Elijah suddenly met him. When Obadiah recognized him, he fell facedown and said, “Is it you, my lord Elijah?”

  6. 1 Kings 18:16

    So Obadiah went to inform Ahab, who went to meet Elijah.

From STEPBible's TIPNR, Tyndale House Cambridge (CC BY 4.0): names, family, references and the AI written article. Verse text is the BSB.