1 Kings 18:3

“And Ahab called Obadiah, which was the governor of his house, etc.] Perhaps his steward: the Jews f384 take him to be Obadiah the prophet, who wrote the small prophecy that goes by his name: (now Obadiah feared the Lord greatly:) who, though he did not go up to Jerusalem to worship, which ceremonial service was dispensed with in him, yet he did not worship the calves, nor Baal, but served the Lord in a spiritual manner.”

“Obadiah feared the Lord greatly--Although he did not follow the course taken by the Levites and the majority of pious Israelites at that time of emigration into Judah (Ch2 11:13-16), he was a secret and sincere worshipper. He probably considered the violent character of the government, and his power of doing some good to the persecuted people of God as a sufficient excuse for his not going to worship in Jerusalem.”

“Obadiah’s name, “servant of Yahweh,” indicates his religious character. It corresponds to the modern Arabic name Abdallah. Ahab could scarcely have been ignorant of Obadiah’s faithfulness to Yahweh; and it tells in favor of the monarch’s tolerance that he should have maintained an adherent of the old religion in so important an office. There seems to be no doubt that the worst deeds of Ahab’s reign sprang less from his own free will and natural disposition than from the evil counsels, or rather perhaps the imperious requirements, of his wife. return to 'Top of Page'”

“Obadiah - Being valued by Ahab for his great prudence and fidelity, and therefore indulged as to the worship of the calves and Baal. But how could he and some other Israelites be said to fear the Lord, when they did not go up to Jerusalem to worship, as God had commanded? Although they seem not to be wholly excusable in this neglect, yet because they worshipped God in spirit and truth, and performed all moral duties to God and their brethren, and abstained from idolatry, being kept from Jerusalem by violence, God bares with their infirmity herein. 3 Kings (1 Kings) 18:4”

“18:3-6 Due to the severity of the continuing drought, Ahab and Obadiah, his chief officer (cp. 4:6; 16:9), set out to locate sufficient water and grass for the king’s horses. These provisions were crucial for military preparedness. Assyrian king Shalmaneser III wrote that Ahab put some 2,000 horse-drawn chariots into the Battle of Qarqar (853 BC). Solomon had also had many horses and chariots (10:26).”

“Obadiah: Heb. Obadiahu the governor of his house: Heb. over his house. Gen 24:2, Gen 24:10, Gen 39:4, Gen 39:5, Gen 39:9, Gen 41:40 feared the Lord: Kg1 18:12; Gen 22:12, Gen 42:18; Kg2 4:1; Neh 5:15, Neh 7:2; Pro 14:26; Mal 3:16; Mat 10:28; Act 10:2, Act 10:35 3 Kings (1 Kings) 18:4”