1 Kings is book 11 of the 39 books of the Old Testament and belongs to the History section. See how it fits with the rest in our guide to all 66 books of the Bible.
Quick facts
- Section
- Old Testament · History
- Genre
- Historical narrative
- Author (traditional)
- Jeremiah, according to Jewish tradition (the Talmud); the author used earlier royal records.
- Other views on authorship
- Most scholars see Kings as part of the history from Deuteronomy to Kings, compiled in the late monarchy and completed during the exile.
- Date (traditional)
- Completed during the Babylonian exile, around 560–540 BC (1 and 2 Kings were one book).
- Other views on dating
- A first edition in the 7th century BC under Josiah, completed in the 6th century BC.
- Chapters
- 22
- Verses
- 816
- Reading time
- About 111 minutes (22,253 words in the BSB)
What is 1 Kings about?
1 Kings opens with an aging David and a struggle over who will succeed him. Solomon is crowned, and when God offers him anything he asks, he requests wisdom to govern well. God gives him wisdom, wealth and honor. Solomon judges wisely between two women claiming the same baby, organizes the kingdom, and over seven years builds the temple in Jerusalem. At its dedication, God's glory fills the house, and Solomon prays a long prayer for Israel and for foreigners who pray toward it.
But Solomon's later years are troubled. He marries hundreds of foreign wives, builds shrines to their gods and lays heavy burdens on the people. After his death, his son Rehoboam refuses to lighten the load, and ten northern tribes break away under Jeroboam, who sets up golden calves at Bethel and Dan. From now on there are two kingdoms: Israel in the north and Judah in the south.
The book then moves quickly through the kings of both kingdoms, judging each by their faithfulness to God. It slows down for the prophet Elijah, who stands against King Ahab and Queen Jezebel and their Baal worship. Elijah announces a drought, is fed by ravens, raises a widow's son, defeats the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel, and then, exhausted and afraid, meets God in a still, small voice on Mount Horeb.
Outline of 1 Kings
| ChaptersCh. | Section |
|---|---|
| 1–2 | Solomon becomes king Adonijah's bid for the throne, Solomon's anointing and David's death. |
| 3–4 | Solomon's wisdom Solomon asks for wisdom, judges between two mothers and organizes the kingdom. |
| 5–8 | The temple Building the temple and palace; the ark is brought in and Solomon prays at the dedication. |
| 9–11 | Glory and decline The queen of Sheba, Solomon's wealth, and his turn to foreign gods. |
| 12–16 | The kingdom divided Rehoboam and Jeroboam split the nation; a series of kings in Israel and Judah. |
| 17–22 | Elijah and Ahab Drought, Mount Carmel, the still, small voice, Naboth's vineyard and Ahab's death. |
Key themes
- Wisdom and its limits. Solomon begins by asking for a discerning heart. Yet even the wisest king falls when his heart is divided.
- The temple and God's presence. Solomon admits that heaven itself cannot contain God (8:27), yet God chooses to put his name in a house among his people.
- Faithfulness decides the kingdom's fate. Every king is judged by whether he followed the LORD like David or led people into idolatry like Jeroboam.
- Prophets confront power. Elijah stands alone against a king and queen, calling Israel to stop wavering between two opinions (18:21).
- God in the quiet. After the fire on Carmel, God meets a worn-out Elijah not in wind, earthquake or fire, but in a still, small voice.
Key people and places
- Solomon — David's son, known for wisdom and for building the temple.
- Rehoboam — Solomon's son, whose harshness splits the kingdom.
- Jeroboam — First king of northern Israel; sets up golden calves.
- Elijah — Prophet who confronts Ahab and the prophets of Baal.
- Ahab — King of Israel who promotes Baal worship.
- Jezebel — Ahab's queen, a fierce opponent of the LORD's prophets.
- Queen of Sheba — Foreign queen who visits to test Solomon's wisdom.
Places: Jerusalem, Gibeon, Shechem, Bethel and Dan, Samaria, Mount Carmel, Mount Horeb, Jezreel.
Key verses in 1 Kings
Quoted from the Berean Standard Bible (BSB).
“Therefore give Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people and to discern between good and evil. For who is able to govern this great people of Yours?””
“But will God indeed dwell upon the earth? Even heaven, the highest heaven, cannot contain You, much less this temple I have built.”
“Then Elijah approached all 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 did not answer a word.”
“When all the people saw this, they fell facedown and said, “The LORD, He is God! The LORD, He is God!””
“Then the LORD said, “Go out and stand on the mountain before the LORD. Behold, the LORD is about to pass by.” And a great and mighty wind tore into the mountains and shattered the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake there was a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a still, small voice.”
How 1 Kings fits the big story
1 Kings continues from 2 Samuel and was originally one book with 2 Kings, which follows both kingdoms to their fall. Solomon's wisdom is associated with Proverbs, Ecclesiastes and the Song of Songs. 2 Chronicles retells the same period from Judah's point of view. The split kingdom and its slide into idolatry form the background for prophets like Hosea and Amos. In the Gospels, Elijah appears with Moses at Jesus' transfiguration, and Jesus points to himself as 'greater than Solomon.'
How to read 1 Kings
At 2 chapters a day you can read 1 Kings in 11 days. Use a simple chart to track the kings of Israel and Judah as you read chapters 12–16. Then slow down for the Elijah stories in chapters 17–19.