1 Kings
The Book of 1 Kings preserves a record of the kings of Israel and Judah, summarizing their kingly actions as well as their interactions with the prophets.
CHAPTERS: 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22
RESOURCES: Summary, Outline, Memorize, Corrupt Leaders, Miracles
SUMMARY
Title
The Books of 1 and 2 Kings record and interpret the reigns of all the kings of Israel and Judah (except Saul).
In the Hebrew Bible, 1 and 2 Kings are one book, not two. It is considered a continuation of the history in 1 Samuel and 2 Samuel.
Author
The book bears the marks of single rather than multiple authorship.
The identity of that author is unknown. Some speculate he may have been an exile who lived in Babylon.
Date
The last event recorded in 2 Kings is the release of Jehoiachin from prison. That took place in the 37th year of his imprisonment, which was 560 BC.
Therefore 1 and 2 Kings were not written before then.
But the author does not mention the return of the Jewish exiles from their Babylonian Captivity. That took place in 538 BC.
Thus 1 and 2 Kings can be dated to between 560 and 538 BC.
Purpose
The author preserves a record of the kings of Israel and Judah, summarizing their kingly actions as well as their interactions with the prophets.
But more importantly, the author preserves the lessons of history. Did each king live by the Law of Moses? Why did the nations decline? How widespread was idolatry among the people of the LORD God?
OUTLINE
THE REIGN OF SOLOMON
Preparations for the New King
1 Kings 1:1-4. Elderly David sleeps with a young woman
1 Kings 1:5-53. Adonijah tries to overthrow David
1 Kings 2:1-9. David’s final words to Solomon
The Earlier Years of Solomon’s Reign
1 Kings 2:13-46. Solomon slaughters his political opponents
1 Kings 3:1-15. Solomon’s kingdom begins
1 Kings 3:16-28. Solomon settles a dispute over a baby
1 Kings 4:1-6. Solomon’s cabinet
1 Kings 4:7-19. Solomon’s governors
1 Kings 4:20-28. Solomon’s wealth
1 Kings 4:29-34. Solomon’s wisdom
Solomon’s Palace and Temple
1 Kings 5:1-12. Solomon orders materials for his Temple
1 Kings 5:13-18. Solomon conscripts slaves
1 Kings 6:1-10. The laborers begin building the temple
1 Kings 6:11-13. The LORD GOD promises to bless Solomon
1 Kings 6:14-38. The laborers finish the temple
1 Kings 7:1-12. The laborers build Solomon’s giant palace
1 Kings 7:13-51. Huram builds the furnishings for the temple
1 Kings 8:1-66. Solomon dedicates the temple
The Later Years of Solomon’s Reign
1 Kings 9:1-9. The LORD God’s covenant with Solomon
1 Kings 9:10-28. Solomon’s achievements
1 Kings 10:1-13. The queen of Sheba
1 Kings 10:14-29. Solomon’s wealth
1 Kings 11:1-43. Solomon does evil
THE SUCCESSION OF EVIL KINGS
1 Kings 12:1-11. King Rehoboam rejects wise counsel
1 Kings 12:12-15. Rehoboam acts upon advice from fools
1 Kings 12:16-20. The nation resists
1 Kings 12:21-24. Rehoboam recants
1 Kings 12:25-33. Jeroboam does evil
1 Kings 13:1-32. A prophet from Judah
1 Kings 13:33-34. Jeroboam’s constant apostasy
1 Kings 14:1-16. Evil king Jeroboam tries to deceive the prophet Ahijah
1 Kings 14:17-18. Prince Abijah dies
1 Kings 14:19-20. Jeroboam dies
1 Kings 14:21-31. Evil Rehoboam becomes king of Judah
1 Kings 15:1-8. Evil king Abijah
1 Kings 15:9-24. Good king Asa
1 Kings 15:25-27. Evil king Nadab
1 Kings 15:28-34. Evil king Baasha
1 Kings 16:1-7. King Baasha dies
1 Kings 16:8-10. Evil king Elah
1 Kings 16:11-20. Evil king Zimri
1 Kings 16:21-28. Evil king Omri
1 Kings 16:29-34. Evil king Ahab
1 Kings 17:1. Elijah announces a devastating drought
1 Kings 17:2-6. Elijah becomes homeless
1 Kings 17:7-16. Elijah lives with a widow in Zarephath
1 Kings 17:17-24. Elijah raises the dead
1 Kings 18:1-7. Evil king Ahab hunts for Elijah
1 Kings 18:8-18. Elijah meets evil king Ahab
1 Kings 18:19-46. Elijah kills 850 prophets of Baal and Ashera
1 Kings 19:1-7. Elijah flees for his life
1 Kings 19:8-14. Elijah hears a gentle whisper
1 Kings 19:15-21. Elijah anoints his own successor
1 Kings 20:1-12. Syria attacks
1 Kings 20:13-25. The LORD God defends them
1 Kings 20:26-43. The LORD God defends them again
1 Kings 21:1-6. Ahab covets a vineyard
1 Kings 21:7-16. Jezebel has Naboth murdered
1 Kings 21:17-26. Elijah prophecies against Ahab
1 Kings 21:27-29. Ahab repents
1 Kings 22:1-29. Micaiah prophecies the truth about evil king Ahab
1 Kings 22:30-40. Cowardly Ahab dies an unlamented death
1 Kings 22:41-50. Good king Jehoshaphat reigns in Judah
1 Kings 22:51-53. Evil king Ahaziah reigns in Israel
MEMORIZE
1 Kings 18:41. Then Elijah said to Ahab, “Go up, eat and drink; for there is the sound of abundance of rain.” (New King James Version)
Great verses to memorize from the entire Bible
1 KINGS
CHAPTERS: 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22
RESOURCES: Summary, Outline, Memorize, Corrupt Leaders, Miracles
Unless otherwise noted, all Bible quotations on this page are from the World English Bible and the World Messianic Edition. These translations have no copyright restrictions. They are in the Public Domain.