In obedience to the command, "Elijah went to show himself unto Ahab." About the time that the prophet set forth on his journey to Samaria, Ahab had proposed to Obadiah, the governor of his household, that they make thorough search for springs and brooks of water, in the hope of finding pasture for their starving flocks and herds. Even in the royal court the effect of the long-continued drought was keenly felt. The king, deeply concerned over the outlook for his household, decided to unite personally with his servant in a search for some favored spots where 138 pasture might be had. "So they divided the land between them to pass throughout it: Ahab went one way by himself, and Obadiah went another way by himself."

Elias adlød befalingen og gav sig "på vej for at træde frem for Akab". Næsten samtidig med at profeten begyndte sin rejse til Samaria, foreslog Akab paladsøversten Obadja, at de skulle søge grundigt efter vandkilder og bække i håb om at finde græs til deres hornkvæg og småkvæg, som var ved at sulte ihjel. Selv ved hoffet føltes virkningerne af den lange tørke. Kongen var dybt bekymret for de personer, der var knyttet til hoffet, og besluttede, at han selv ville rejse med sin tjener rundt for at finde nogle steder, hvor der endnu var græs. "Så delte de landet, som de skulle gennemvandre, mellem sig, således at Akab og Obadja drog hver sin vej."