John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 4. For it was so, when Jezebel cut off the prophets of the Lord , etc.] Or slew them, as the Targum; put them to death some way or another; such as were brought up in the schools of the prophets, trained up in religious exercises, and instructed others therein: that Obadiah took one hundred prophets, and hid them by fifty in a cave ; fifty in one cave and fifty in another; for there were large caves in the land of Israel capable of holding such a number, and many more, (see <092201> Samuel 22:1 24:3) and fed them with bread and water; which in this time of famine were very acceptable; though these may be put for all the necessaries of life.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-16 - The severest judgments, of themselves, will not humble or change the hearts of sinners; nothing, except the blood of Jesus Christ, can aton for the guilt of sin; nothing, except the sanctifying Spirit of God can purge away its pollution. The priests and the Levites were gone to Judah and Jerusalem, 2Ch 11:13, 14, but instead of them God raised u prophets, who read and expounded the word. They probably were from the schools of the prophets, first set up by Samuel. They had not the spirit of prophecy as Elijah, but taught the people to keep close to the God of Israel. These Jezebel sought to destroy. The few tha escaped death were forced to hide themselves. God has his remnant amon all sorts, high and low; and that faith, fear, and love of his name which are the fruits of the Holy Spirit, will be accepted through the Redeemer. See how wonderfully God raises up friends for his minister and people, for their shelter in difficult times. Bread and water wer now scarce, yet Obadiah will find enough for God's prophets, to kee them alive. Ahab's care was not to lose all the beasts; but he took n care about his soul, not to lose that. He took pains to seek grass, but none to seek the favour of God; fencing against the effect, but no inquiring how to remove the cause. But it bodes well with a people when God calls his ministers to stand forth, and show themselves. An we may the better endure the bread of affliction, while our eyes se our teachers.
Original Hebrew ויהי1961 בהכרית3772 איזבל348 את853 נביאי5030 יהוה3068 ויקח3947 עבדיהו5662 מאה3967 נבאים5030 ויחביאם2244 חמשׁים2572 אישׁ376 במערה4631 וכלכלם3557 לחם3899 ומים׃4325
