1 Kings 18:5

KJV

And Ahab said unto Obadiah, Go into the land, unto all fountains of water, and unto all brooks: peradventure we may find grass to save the horses and mules alive, that we lose not all the beasts.

KJV (with Strong's)

And Ahab {H256} said {H559} unto Obadiah {H5662}, Go {H3212} into the land {H776}, unto all fountains {H4599} of water {H4325}, and unto all brooks {H5158}: peradventure {H194} we may find {H4672} grass {H2682} to save {H2421} the horses {H5483} and mules {H6505} alive {H2421}, that we lose {H3772} not all the beasts {H929}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Ach'av said to 'Ovadyah, "Go throughout the land, and check all the springs and vadis; maybe we can find grass somewhere, so that we can keep the horses and mules alive and not lose all the animals."

Berean Standard Bible

Then Ahab said to Obadiah, “Go throughout the land to every spring and every valley. Perhaps we will find grass to keep the horses and mules alive so that we will not have to destroy any livestock.”

American Standard Version

And Ahab said unto Obadiah, Go through the land, unto all the fountains of water, and unto all the brooks: peradventure we may find grass and save the horses and mules alive, that we lose not all the beasts.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
1 Kings 18:5 unveils the dire consequences of a prolonged drought in Israel, depicting King Ahab's desperate attempt to preserve his kingdom's vital livestock. After three years without rain, a direct judgment from God against Israel's idolatry and Ahab's wickedness, the land is parched, and the king's immediate concern is not the spiritual state of his people but the survival of his horses and mules. This verse sets the stage for the dramatic confrontation between Elijah and the prophets of Baal, highlighting the severity of the famine and Ahab's misplaced priorities.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse immediately precedes the dramatic confrontation between Elijah and the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel. It follows Elijah's three-year period of hiding and divine provision, first by the brook Cherith and then with the widow of Zarephath, as detailed in [1 Kings 17](/1_kings/17 "1 Kings 17 - Elijah and the Drought"). The drought itself was initiated by Elijah's prophetic word in [1 Kings 17:1](/1_kings/17-1 "1 Kings 17:1 - Elijah's Prophecy of Drought"), serving as a divine judgment against the widespread Baal worship promoted by Ahab and Jezebel. Chapter 18 opens with God instructing Elijah to show himself to Ahab, signaling the impending end of the drought and the decisive demonstration of Yahweh's supremacy. Verse 5, therefore, serves to vividly illustrate the extreme conditions that have driven Ahab to such a desperate measure, setting the scene for Elijah's return and the ultimate resolution of the crisis.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Ancient Israel was an agrarian society heavily dependent on rainfall for its crops and livestock. Drought was a catastrophic event, often interpreted as divine judgment, particularly in a covenantal context where rain was promised for obedience and withheld for disobedience (as seen in [Deuteronomy 11:13-17](/deuteronomy/11-13 "Deuteronomy 11:13-17 - Blessings and Curses for Obedience")). Horses and mules were not merely beasts of burden; they were crucial for transportation, agriculture, and especially military strength. Losing them would cripple the kingdom's economy and defense capabilities. Ahab's reign ([1 Kings 16:29-33](/1_kings/16-29 "1 Kings 16:29-33 - Ahab's Wicked Reign")) was marked by unprecedented idolatry, particularly the promotion of Baal worship, a Canaanite fertility god believed to control rain and agricultural prosperity. The drought directly challenged Baal's supposed power, demonstrating Yahweh's absolute sovereignty over creation.
* **Key Themes:** The verse profoundly contributes to several key themes within [1 Kings](/1_kings/1 "1 Kings - The Divided Kingdom") and the broader biblical narrative. Firstly, it underscores the **severity of divine judgment** against apostasy, showing how God uses natural phenomena to bring nations to account. Secondly, it highlights **Ahab's spiritual blindness and misplaced priorities**, revealing a king more concerned with material assets than the spiritual well-being of his people or his relationship with God, a recurring theme in the history of Israel's kings. Thirdly, it emphasizes the **desperation and humbling effect of God's judgment**, demonstrating that even powerful monarchs are subject to the consequences of their actions and the sovereign hand of God. This desperation also serves to heighten the anticipation for God's dramatic intervention through Elijah, culminating in the display of Yahweh's power on Mount Carmel and the return of rain, as promised in [1 Kings 18:41](/1_kings/18-41 "1 Kings 18:41 - Elijah's Prayer for Rain").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Fountains (Hebrew, מַעְיָן, _maʿyan_):** Refers to natural springs, perennial sources of water that would typically be more reliable than seasonal streams. The fact that Ahab is seeking these out suggests that even the most dependable water sources are either dried up or severely diminished, indicating the extreme extent of the drought.
* **Brooks (Hebrew, נַחַל, _naḥal_):** Denotes wadis or seasonal streams, which would be among the first water sources to dry up in a drought. Searching these indicates a desperate, exhaustive search for any remaining moisture, highlighting the critical nature of the situation.
* **Peradventure (Hebrew, אוּלַי, _ʾûlay_):** This adverb expresses uncertainty, perhaps, or possibly. Its inclusion reveals Ahab's dwindling hope and the slim chances of success for their mission. It underscores the profound desperation and the near-hopelessness of finding sufficient water and pasture, further emphasizing the severity of the divine judgment.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And Ahab said unto Obadiah,"**: This introduces the command from King Ahab to his trusted steward, Obadiah. It establishes Ahab's authority and his direct involvement in addressing the crisis, albeit from a purely pragmatic, rather than spiritual, perspective.
* **"Go into the land, unto all fountains of water, and unto all brooks:"**: This is Ahab's directive, emphasizing a comprehensive and exhaustive search throughout the entire land. The repetition of "all" underscores the thoroughness required, indicating that localized efforts would be insufficient given the widespread desolation.
* **"peradventure we may find grass to save the horses and mules alive,"**: This clause reveals the specific objective and the underlying desperation. The goal is to find "grass" (pasture) for the vital livestock. The term "peradventure" highlights the uncertainty and the dire circumstances, suggesting that success is far from guaranteed. The focus on "horses and mules" points to their immense value for military and economic purposes.
* **"that we lose not all the beasts."**: This final phrase articulates the ultimate fear and consequence Ahab seeks to avoid. Losing "all the beasts" would be an economic and military catastrophe, crippling the kingdom. It underscores the high stakes involved in this desperate search for survival.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs several significant literary devices. **Irony** is prominent, as King Ahab, the primary instigator of Israel's apostasy and the one responsible for provoking God's judgment, is depicted as entirely preoccupied with the welfare of his animals rather than the spiritual state of his people or the underlying cause of the famine. His concern is purely pragmatic and self-serving, contrasting sharply with the divine purpose of the drought, which was to bring Israel to repentance. The use of **hyperbole** or **exaggeration** in "all fountains of water, and unto all brooks" emphasizes the thoroughness and desperation of the search, conveying the widespread devastation. Similarly, "that we lose not all the beasts" highlights the catastrophic potential and the urgency of the situation. This desperate search also serves as a powerful **foreshadowing** device, setting the stage for the dramatic intervention of God through Elijah, where the true source of life and provision will be unequivocally revealed.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
1 Kings 18:5 powerfully illustrates the devastating consequences of national apostasy and the sovereign power of God to use natural calamities as instruments of judgment and a call to repentance. Ahab's focus on preserving his livestock rather than seeking divine intervention reveals a profound spiritual blindness, highlighting the human tendency to prioritize material well-being over spiritual reconciliation during times of crisis. This verse underscores the biblical principle that disobedience to God's covenant commands brings curses upon the land, while obedience brings blessing and provision. It also sets the stage for the ultimate demonstration of Yahweh's supremacy over Baal, whose purported control over rain proved utterly false.

* [Deuteronomy 11:16-17](/deuteronomy/11-16 "Warning Against Idolatry and Its Consequences"): "Take heed to yourselves, that your heart be not deceived, and ye turn aside, and serve other gods, and worship them; And then the Lord's wrath be kindled against you, and he shut up the heaven, that there be no rain, and that the land yield not her fruit; and lest ye perish quickly from off the good land which the Lord giveth you."
* [Amos 4:7-8](/amos/4-7 "God's Judgment Through Drought"): "And also I have withholden the rain from you, when there were yet three months to the harvest: and I caused it to rain upon one city, and caused it not to rain upon another city: one piece was rained upon, and the piece whereupon it rained not withered. So two or three cities wandered unto one city, to drink water; but they were not satisfied: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the Lord."
* [Haggai 1:9-11](/haggai/1-9 "Consequences of Neglecting God's House"): "Ye looked for much, and, lo, it came to little; and when ye brought it home, I did blow upon it. Why? saith the Lord of hosts. Because of mine house that is waste, and ye run every man unto his own house. Therefore the heaven over you is stayed from dew, and the earth is stayed from her fruit. And I called for a drought upon the land, and upon the mountains, and upon the corn, and upon the new wine, and upon the oil, and upon that which the ground bringeth forth, and upon men, and upon cattle, and upon all the labour of the hands."

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
This verse serves as a powerful mirror for self-examination, prompting us to consider our own priorities in times of personal or collective crisis. Like Ahab, are we prone to focusing on the immediate, tangible losses—our material possessions, financial security, or worldly comforts—while neglecting the deeper spiritual causes or implications of our struggles? The drought in Israel was not merely a natural disaster; it was a divine judgment intended to call a rebellious nation back to God. Our challenges, too, can be God's way of drawing our attention away from misplaced allegiances and back to Him, the ultimate source of all provision and life. True security and lasting solutions are found not in frantic human efforts to preserve what is perishing, but in humble repentance and a renewed commitment to seeking God's will and acknowledging His sovereignty. This passage challenges us to ask: What are we truly desperate for? And where do we search for our ultimate provision and salvation?

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In times of personal or societal crisis, what are my immediate concerns, and how do they align or diverge from God's priorities?**
* **How does this passage challenge my understanding of God's judgment and His use of difficult circumstances to draw people to Himself?**
* **Am I, like Ahab, more focused on preserving my "horses and mules" (my material comforts, status, or worldly security) than on seeking spiritual revival and reconciliation with God?**
* **What steps can I take to cultivate a heart that prioritizes God's will and kingdom, even when faced with significant challenges or losses?**

### FAQ
**Why was Ahab so concerned about horses and mules, and not his people?**

Answer: Ahab's primary concern for horses and mules, as opposed to the suffering of his people, reflects his character and priorities as a wicked king. In ancient Israel, horses and mules were not just ordinary animals; they were vital assets for military strength, transportation, and agriculture. Losing "all the beasts" would have crippled his kingdom's economic infrastructure and defense capabilities, directly impacting his power and wealth. His focus on these valuable assets, rather than the spiritual state of his nation or the human suffering caused by the drought, highlights his spiritual blindness and self-serving nature, a recurring theme for many unrighteous kings in [1 Kings](/1_kings/1 "1 Kings - The History of the Kings of Israel and Judah"). The drought was a divine judgment against his idolatry and the nation's apostasy, but Ahab perceived it as a practical problem to be solved through human effort, rather than a spiritual crisis requiring repentance.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The desperate search for water and grass in [1 Kings 18:5](/1_kings/18-5 "1 Kings 18:5 - Ahab's Desperate Search") foreshadows humanity's deeper spiritual thirst and the ultimate provision found in Christ. Ahab's frantic efforts to sustain physical life for his animals through earthly means contrasts sharply with Jesus, who offers spiritual life and sustenance that truly satisfies. Jesus declares Himself to be the [Living Water](/john/4-10 "John 4:10 - Jesus Offers Living Water"), promising that whoever drinks of Him will never thirst again ([John 4:14](/john/4-14 "John 4:14 - The Spring of Water Gushing Up to Eternal Life")). He is also the [Bread of Life](/john/6-35 "John 6:35 - Jesus, the Bread of Life"), providing eternal nourishment that far surpasses any physical sustenance. While Ahab was concerned with saving perishing beasts, Christ came to save perishing souls, offering His own life as the ultimate sacrifice to secure eternal life for those who believe ([John 3:16](/john/3-16 "John 3:16 - God So Loved the World")). The drought in Israel was a consequence of turning away from God, but in Christ, we find the restoration of all things, the true Shepherd who leads His flock to [springs of living water](/revelation/7-17 "Revelation 7:17 - The Lamb Will Guide Them to Springs of Living Water"), and the One who [upholds the universe by the word of His power](/hebrews/1-3 "Hebrews 1:3 - Christ Upholds All Things"), ensuring that true life and provision flow from Him alone.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.