מלכים א, פרק י״ח, פסוק ז׳

While traveling, Obadiah unexpectedly encounters the prophet Elijah, who is on his way to present himself before King Ahab at the command of God. This sudden meeting is not a mere coincidence. Obadiah earns the privilege of being the first to greet the prophet because of his profound reverence for God [אברבנאל]. Instantly recognizing Elijah, Obadiah falls to the ground in a display of deep respect and submission [מצודת דוד].

The manner in which Obadiah greets the prophet establishes a practical principle of respect toward a spiritual leader. By respectfully addressing Elijah as his lord before speaking his actual name, Obadiah demonstrates that it is permissible to use a master's given name directly to their face, provided a title of honor precedes it. This resolves a matter of etiquette, offering a clear path of conduct despite other legal opinions that strictly forbid addressing a teacher by name in their presence [חומת אנך].

However, the respectful encounter quickly turns to dread. When Elijah instructs Obadiah to go and announce his arrival to King Ahab, Obadiah is struck with severe anxiety. He is terrified that as soon as he leaves, the Spirit of God will carry Elijah away to an unknown location. If the king arrives and finds no sign of the prophet, he will assume Obadiah deceived him and will immediately have him executed. To emphasize the extreme danger he faces, Obadiah recounts the exhaustive manhunt Ahab has been conducting. The king had forced neighboring kingdoms to swear oaths that they had no knowledge of Elijah's whereabouts, utilizing local political treaties to ensure their compliance.

Desperate to survive, Obadiah pleads for his life. He asks what wrong he has committed to be handed over to the king for execution. He points out the tragic irony of the situation, arguing that since he previously risked his own life to hide and sustain a hundred prophets of God in caves, it would be deeply unfitting for a prophet to now become the cause of his death. Obadiah's intense fear is only put to rest when Elijah solemnly swears that he will indeed reveal himself to the king that very same day [אברבנאל, צאינה וראינה].