מלכים א, פרק י״ח, פסוק י״ד

A loyal servant caught between a dangerous king and a powerful prophet faces an impossible dilemma. Obadiah finds himself in a highly delicate position, carrying the heavy burden of protecting those who cannot protect themselves. He expresses a deep fear to Elijah regarding the command to announce the prophet's return to King Ahab. Obadiah is already viewed with suspicion by the king. If he reports that Elijah is nearby, but the prophet suddenly vanishes before the king arrives, Ahab will naturally assume that Obadiah helped him escape and hid him in a cave [מלבי״ם].

The threat of execution at the hands of the king goes far beyond a simple, personal fear of death. Obadiah is secretly sustaining one hundred prophets, and his desperate plea to Elijah is rooted in a profound concern for their survival. If the king kills him, these hidden prophets will be left entirely without food or protection. He begs Elijah to consider their fragile fate and to show mercy by not forcing him into an action that could cost all of them their lives [מצודת דוד, ביאור שטיינזלץ].