Author
—
Written
c. 550–620 BC
Chapters
22
Audience
The people of Israel in exile
David's final days and Solomon's establishment as king of Israel
Chapter 1 → Chapter 2Read in Bible
God grants Solomon extraordinary wisdom and administrative prosperity
Chapter 3 → Chapter 4Read in Bible
Solomon builds and dedicates the temple in Jerusalem to the Lord
Chapter 5 → Chapter 8Read in Bible
God reaffirms his covenant with Solomon as his kingdom reaches its zenith
Chapter 9 → Chapter 10Read in Bible
Solomon's foreign wives lead him into idolatry and God announces the kingdom's division
Chapter 11Read in Bible
The kingdom splits into Israel and Judah under rival kings marked by widespread apostasy
Chapter 12 → Chapter 16Read in Bible
The prophet Elijah confronts King Ahab and challenges the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel
Chapter 17 → Chapter 19Read in Bible
Ahab's wars, the murder of Naboth, and the king's death as judgment for his wickedness
Chapter 20 → Chapter 22Read in Bible
"So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?"
1 Kings 3:9"But will God really dwell on earth? The heavens, even the highest heaven, cannot contain you. How much less this temple I have built!"
1 Kings 8:27"Elijah went before the people and said, 'How long will you waver between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him.' But the people said nothing."
1 Kings 18:21"After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper."
1 Kings 19:121 Kings traces the history of Israel from the final days of King David through the reign of Solomon and into the divided kingdom, culminating with the ministry of Elijah. The book demonstrates that Israel's prosperity or suffering is directly tied to the faithfulness of its kings to the Mosaic covenant, and it theologically interprets history to show that God's judgment on the nation was just.