Albert Barnes Commentary 1 Kings 18

The third year – that is, in the third year of his sojourn with the widow. The entire period of drought was three and a half years (Luke 4:25, James 5:17). Of this time, Elijah probably spent about one year at the brook Cherith and two and a half years at Sarepta.

Obadiah’s name, meaning “servant of Yahweh,” indicates his religious character. It corresponds to the modern Arabic name Abdallah. Ahab could hardly have been ignorant of Obadiah’s faithfulness to Yahweh, and it speaks to the monarch’s tolerance that he maintained a follower of the old religion in such an important office. There seems to be no doubt that the worst deeds of Ahab’s reign stemmed less from his own free will and natural disposition than from the evil counsel, or perhaps the imperious requirements, of his wife.

We have no details of Jezebel’s bloody deed. Some have speculated that it was Jezebel’s response to Elijah’s threat, and that the command given to him to hide in Cherith alone saved him from being one of the victims. This view receives some support from the actions and words of Obadiah (1 Kings 18:13).

Fifty in a cave—The limestone formation of Judea and Samaria abounds with large natural caverns, the size of which was easily increased by human effort. These “caves” played an important part in the history of the country, serving especially as refuges for political offenders and other fugitives (Judges 6:2; 1 Samuel 13:6; Hebrews 11:38).

To all fountains of water and to all brooks - Rather, “to all springs of water and to all torrent-courses.” The former are the perennial streams; the latter are the torrent-courses which become dry in an ordinary summer.

All the beasts - Rather, some, or, “a portion of our beasts.”

Obadiah thinks that to execute this commission will be fatal to him (1 Kings 18:12).