1 Kings
History · Old Testament · Book 11 of 66- Author
- Unknown; tradition says Jeremiah
- Written
- c. 560–540 BC
- Time covered
- c. 970–850 BC, from Solomon to Ahab’s successors
- Where
- Jerusalem, and the northern kingdom after the split
- Written to
- Judah in exile, asking how it came to this
- Genre
- Narrative history
- Chapters
- 22
“And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word.”1 Kings 18:21 KJV
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Overview
First Kings opens in glory and ends in idolatry. Solomon asks for wisdom, builds the temple, and receives wealth and fame beyond any king before him — then marries hundreds of foreign wives and builds high places for their gods.
The kingdom splits under his son. Ten tribes go north with Jeroboam and his golden calves; Judah keeps Jerusalem. The second half follows both lines to Ahab and Jezebel, and to the prophet who stood against them alone on Carmel.
Background
The books of Kings were written for people already in Babylon. They read like a long answer to the question every exile was asking: how did the promised land end in this?
Each reign is measured by one standard — did the king do right in the sight of the LORD? Political success is barely mentioned. Omri, one of the most powerful kings of the north, gets six verses.
Key themes
- Wisdom is a gift to ask for, and not a guarantee against folly.
- Divided hearts divide kingdoms.
- God dwells with His people, and the temple is filled with His glory.
- Prophets stand against kings, and God answers by fire.
- The word of the LORD is the measure of every reign.
Outline
- Solomon securedChapters 1–2
Adonijah’s bid, David’s charge, and old accounts settled.
- WisdomChapters 3–4
A dream at Gibeon, two women and one baby, and a kingdom at peace.
- The templeChapters 5–8
Seven years of building, the ark brought in, and Solomon’s prayer of dedication.
- Glory and declineChapters 9–11
The queen of Sheba, unmatched wealth, and foreign wives who turned his heart.
- The kingdom dividedChapters 12–16
Rehoboam’s answer, Jeroboam’s calves, and a run of northern kings.
- Elijah and AhabChapters 17–22
Drought, the widow of Zarephath, Carmel, the still small voice, and Naboth’s vineyard.
Key passages
- 1 Kings 3:9 Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart.
- 1 Kings 8:27 The heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house.
- 1 Kings 11:4 His wives turned away his heart after other gods.
- 1 Kings 12:16 To your tents, O Israel — the kingdom splits.
- 1 Kings 17:16 The barrel of meal wasted not.
- 1 Kings 18:21 How long halt ye between two opinions?
- 1 Kings 18:38-39 The fire of the LORD fell — the LORD, he is the God.
- 1 Kings 19:11-12 A still small voice.
Christ in 1 Kings
Solomon’s temple is where God chose to put His name, and Jesus stood in its successor and said that a greater than Solomon was there — and that He Himself was the temple they would destroy and He would raise. Elijah, meanwhile, is the forerunner Malachi promised, whose spirit and power came in John the Baptist.
Reading it
- Read chapter 8 slowly; Solomon’s prayer anticipates almost everything that goes wrong later.
- Keep track of the two kingdoms — a list of kings and dates helps.
- Read 17–19 as one story of a prophet at his best and his lowest.