The king and the prophet stand face to face. Though Ahab is filled with passionate hatred, yet in the presence of Elijah he seems unmanned, powerless. In his first faltering words, "Art thou he that troubleth Israel?" he unconsciously reveals the inmost feelings of his heart. Ahab knew that it was by the word of God that the heavens had become as brass, yet he sought to cast upon the prophet the blame for the heavy judgments resting on the land.

Nu står kongen og profeten ansigt til ansigt. Skønt Akab er optændt af et brændende had, synes han fuldstændig at have tabt modet i Elias nærværelse. De første ord, han fremstammer: "Er det dig, du, som bringer ulykke over Israel!" åbenbarer hans hjertes inderste tanker, uden at han selv tænker over det. Akab vidste godt, at det skyldtes Guds ord, at himmelen var blevet som kobber, men han forsøgte alligevel at give profeten skylden for de svære straffedomme, som hvilede over landet.