The king went to the prophet, not the prophet to the king. Ahab realized that Elijah gave his first allegiance and service to One higher than an earthly king, and thus the king was forced to make his way to the man whose life he sought. He knew full well that the prophet had not agreed to this strange meeting to surrender himself into the hands of the king. King rather than prophet faced the meeting with fear, even though the king was accompanied with a strong bodyguard of soldiers and the prophet had only the defense of God.