Like the two books of Samuel, the two books of Kings originally were one in the Hebrew Bible. The original Hebrew title of Kings was Melechim, which means “Kings.” The Septuagint artificially divided the book in the middle of the story of Ahaziah; it called the books of Samuel “First and Second Kingdoms” and the books of Kings, “Third and Fourth Kingdoms.” It may have divided these books in this way because the text in Greek required a greater amount of scroll space than did the Hebrew.
The first half of 1 Kings traces the life of Solomon. Under his leadership, Israel rises to the peak of her size, power and glory. Solomon’s great accomplishments, including the construction of the holy temple in Jerusalem, bring him worldwide fame and respect. This truly was Israel’s golden age!
Sadly, Solomon’s zeal for God diminishes in his later years, as pagan wives turn his heart away from worshiping the Lord in His holy temple. As a result, the king with the divided heart leaves behind a divided kingdom. The Book of 1 Kings records what happens over the next century: two sets of kings and two nations of disobedient people who grow increasingly indifferent to God’s prophets and precepts.
Theme: Faithfulness to God must remain an individual’s and a kingdom’s first priority. While King Solomon and the people of Israel remained faithful to their God, He blessed them and caused their kingdom to grow in power, wealth, and respect. But when Solomon and the people turned from God, their once-great kingdom tore itself apart and later fell to vicious conquerors, leaving Jerusalem in ruins and its people languishing in brutal captivity in a foreign land.
Author: Unknown
Time: The book begins at the close of the magnificent reign of King David and the ascension of his son Solomon to the throne (around 970 B.C.). It records Solomon’s compromises and falling away from God, followed by the civil war that divided the nation into the Northern Kingdom (Israel) and Southern Kingdom (Judah) around 930 B.C. First Kings closes with the ministry of the prophet Elijah. Altogether, the two books of Kings cover almost four centuries of Israel’s history.
Structure: The historical narrative records Solomon’s reign (1–11), starting with his ascension to the throne following David’s death and ending with his own death, then moving on to record the decline and fall of the once-great kingdom (12–22).
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As you read 1 Kings, watch for several life principles that play an important role in this book. 12. Peace with God is the fruit of oneness with Him. See 1 Kings 4:24, 25. 17. We stand tallest and strongest on our knees. See 1 Kings 8:30–48. 20. Disappointments are inevitable; discouragement is a choice. See 1 Kings 8:17, 18. 15. Brokenness is God’s requirement for maximum usefulness. See 1 Kings 11:9–14. |