1 Kings
King David, nearing death, reaffirmed his promise that Solomon would succeed him as king, and Solomon was anointed as king with the support of Zadok, Nathan, and Benaiah. After David's death, Solomon became king and dealt with his enemies, including Adonijah, Joab, and Shimei. Solomon married Pharaoh's daughter and continued to offer sacrifices in the high places, and the Lord appeared to him in a dream, granting him wisdom and wealth. Solomon demonstrated his wisdom in a dispute between two prostitutes and later formed an alliance with Hiram, the king of Tyre, to build a temple to the Lord. The construction of the temple was completed in seven years, and Solomon built his own house and other furnishings for the palace. However, Solomon's many foreign wives led him to worship their gods, which displeased the Lord, and the kingdom was eventually divided between his son Rehoboam and Jeroboam, who became the king of Israel. The book of 1 Kings continues with the stories of the kings of Israel and Judah, including Jeroboam, Rehoboam, Ahab, and Jehoshaphat, and the prophets Elijah and Elisha, who called the people to repentance and faithfulness to the Lord.
Chapter 1
King David, now elderly, is warmed by a young virgin named Abishag, but he does not know her intimately. Meanwhile, Adonijah, one of David's sons, declares himself king with the support of Joab and Abiathar, but without the knowledge of David or the support of Zadok, Benaiah, Nathan, and Solomon. Nathan and Bathsheba inform David of Adonijah's actions, and David reaffirms his promise that Solomon will succeed him as king. David instructs Zadok, Nathan, and Benaiah to anoint Solomon as king, which they do, and Solomon is proclaimed king. Adonijah's supporters flee, and Adonijah himself takes hold of the altar, seeking mercy from Solomon, who spares his life on the condition that he prove himself a good man.
Chapter 2
David, nearing death, instructs Solomon to be strong, follow God's ways, and obey the law of Moses, so that he may prosper and maintain the throne of Israel. David also advises Solomon to deal with Joab, who had killed two leaders of the army, and Shimei, who had cursed him. After David's death, Solomon becomes king and Adonijah asks Bathsheba to request that Solomon give him Abishag, one of David's concubines, as a wife. However, Solomon sees this as a threat to his throne and has Adonijah put to death. Solomon also removes Abiathar as priest and has Joab killed for his past crimes. Later, Shimei is put to death for breaking a promise to Solomon not to leave Jerusalem.
Chapter 3
Solomon married Pharaoh's daughter and continued to offer sacrifices in the high places, as the temple had not yet been built. The Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream, offering to grant him a wish, and Solomon requested a wise and understanding heart to judge the people. The Lord was pleased with Solomon's request and granted him wisdom, as well as wealth and glory. Solomon later demonstrated his wisdom in a dispute between two prostitutes over a living child, using a clever test to determine the true mother.
Chapter 4
King Solomon ruled over all of Israel, with various leaders and officials overseeing different aspects of the kingdom. He had twelve regional commanders who provided for the king and his household throughout the year. Solomon's kingdom was vast, stretching from the Euphrates River to Egypt, and he received tribute from all the surrounding kingdoms. The kingdom prospered under his rule, with the people living in peace and security, and Solomon's wisdom and knowledge became renowned throughout the land, attracting visitors from all over the world.
Chapter 5
Hiram, the king of Tyre, sent his servants to Solomon after hearing of his anointing as king, and Solomon requested Hiram's assistance in obtaining cedar trees from Lebanon to build a temple to the Lord. Hiram agreed to provide the trees and had them transported to the sea, where they were arranged as rafts and sent to Solomon. In return, Solomon offered Hiram twenty thousand cor of wheat and twenty cor of oil each year. The two kings formed a pact, and Solomon began gathering workers from Israel to assist in the construction of the temple.
Chapter 6
The construction of the Lord's house began in the fourth year of Solomon's reign, with the house measuring 60 cubits in length, 20 cubits in width, and 30 cubits in height. The house was built with cut and finished stones, with no iron tools used during its construction, and was overlaid with cedar wood. The interior walls were covered with cedar panels, and the floor was overlaid with spruce wood. The oracle, or Holy of Holies, was built with cedar panels and covered in gold, and two cherubim made of olive wood were stationed inside, with their wings touching the walls. The entire house was completed in seven years, with all its works and equipment finished in the eleventh year of Solomon's reign.
Chapter 7
Solomon built his own house for 13 years, and then he built the house of the Lord, using cedar wood and precious stones. He made two columns of brass, each 18 cubits high, and placed them in the portico of the temple, naming them Jachin and Boaz. He also made a molten sea, 10 cubits in diameter, and 10 bases of brass, each with a basin, as well as cooking pots, trays, and small hooks. Hiram, a skilled artisan, made all these items for Solomon, and they were placed in the temple. Solomon then made all the furniture for the house of the Lord, including the altar, table, lampstands, and other items, all of pure gold.
Chapter 8
The leaders of Israel gathered before King Solomon at Jerusalem to move the ark of the covenant from the city of David to the temple. The priests carried the ark, the tabernacle, and the vessels of the sanctuary, and Solomon led the procession. The ark was placed in the Holy of Holies, and the priests brought out the sacrifices. Solomon then blessed the assembly and prayed to God, asking for forgiveness, mercy, and protection for Israel. He also asked God to hear the prayers of foreigners who come to the temple and to establish his words spoken to his father David. After completing his prayer, Solomon rose up and blessed the assembly, and the king and Israel immolated sacrifices before the Lord. The king then sanctified the middle of the atrium and offered sacrifices, and the people celebrated a festival for fourteen days.
Chapter 9
The Lord appeared to Solomon a second time, promising to establish his throne over Israel forever if he walked in simplicity of heart and kept God's laws, but warning that if he or his sons turned away from God, Israel would be taken away and the temple would be cast out. Solomon gave Hiram twenty towns in Galilee, but Hiram was displeased with them and called the land Cabul. Solomon built up various cities, including Gezer, which Pharaoh had given to him as a dowry for his daughter, and he made the remaining Canaanites tributary to him. Solomon also built a navy at Ezion Geber and, with Hiram's help, brought back 420 talents of gold from Ophir.
Chapter 10
The queen of Sheba visited King Solomon, bringing gifts of gold, aromatics, and precious stones, and tested his wisdom with enigmas, which he successfully answered. She was impressed by his wisdom and the grandeur of his kingdom, and she praised God for placing him on the throne of Israel. The queen gave Solomon 120 talents of gold and other gifts, and he gave her all she desired in return. Solomon's wealth and wisdom continued to grow, with his annual gold revenue being 666 talents, and he used his wealth to build a grand throne and other furnishings for his palace.
Chapter 11
King Solomon's many foreign wives led him to worship their gods, including Ashtoreth and Milcom, which displeased the Lord. As a result, the Lord told Solomon that He would tear the kingdom away from him and give it to one of his servants, but not during Solomon's lifetime, out of respect for his father David. The Lord raised up adversaries against Solomon, including Hadad of Idumea and Rezon of Zobah, who became enemies of Israel. Meanwhile, the prophet Ahijah told Jeroboam, a servant of Solomon, that he would be given ten tribes of Israel to rule, while one tribe would remain with Solomon's son, Rehoboam.
Chapter 12
Rehoboam, the son of Solomon, went to Shechem to be appointed king of Israel, but the people asked him to lighten the heavy yoke his father had imposed on them. Rehoboam consulted with the elders, who advised him to yield to the people's petition, but he instead took the counsel of the young men, who told him to increase the yoke. Rehoboam spoke harshly to the people, who then rejected him as king and returned to their tents. The tribe of Judah, along with the tribe of Benjamin, remained loyal to Rehoboam, while the rest of Israel appointed Jeroboam as their king.
Chapter 13
A man of God from Judah prophesied against the altar at Bethel, predicting that a future king named Josiah would destroy the altar and burn the bones of the priests who worshiped there. The man of God also performed a sign, causing the altar to be torn apart and the king's hand to wither when he tried to apprehend him. The king's hand was later restored after the man of God prayed for him. Despite being offered gifts and hospitality by the king, the man of God refused, citing a command from God not to eat or drink in the area. He was later deceived by an elderly prophet into eating and drinking, which led to his death at the hands of a lion. The elderly prophet then mourned the man of God's death and requested to be buried beside him.
Chapter 14
Jeroboam's son Abijah became ill, and Jeroboam sent his wife to consult the prophet Ahijah, disguising her to avoid detection. However, Ahijah, despite his blindness, recognized her and delivered a message from God, condemning Jeroboam's idolatry and announcing the downfall of his dynasty. The prophet also foretold the death of Abijah and the eventual destruction of the house of Jeroboam. The wife of Jeroboam returned home, and Abijah died as predicted. Meanwhile, Rehoboam, the son of Solomon, reigned in Judah, but the kingdom was plagued by idolatry and eventually suffered a devastating invasion by the Egyptian king Shishak.
Chapter 15
Abijam, the son of Rehoboam, reigned over Judah for three years, but he followed in his father's sinful ways and did not have a perfect heart with the Lord. Despite this, the Lord allowed Abijam to have a son to establish Jerusalem because of David's faithfulness. Abijam's son Asa reigned for 41 years and did what was right in the Lord's sight, removing idols and the high places, but not completely. Asa also had war with Baasha, the king of Israel, and formed an alliance with Benhadad, the king of Syria, to defeat Baasha. Meanwhile, Nadab, the son of Jeroboam, reigned over Israel for two years but was killed by Baasha, who then reigned over Israel for 24 years and continued in Jeroboam's sinful ways.
Chapter 16
The Lord condemned Baasha for following in the ways of Jeroboam and causing Israel to sin, and prophesied the downfall of his house. Baasha's son Elah succeeded him but was killed by his servant Zimri, who then destroyed the entire house of Baasha. Zimri reigned for seven days before being overthrown by Omri, who then became king. Omri reigned for 12 years, during which time he built the city of Samaria, but he did evil in the sight of the Lord and provoked him by his actions. Omri's son Ahab succeeded him and reigned for 22 years, doing even more evil than his father and serving Baal.
Chapter 17
Elijah prophesied a drought to King Ahab, and then God instructed him to hide by the torrent Cherith, where he was fed by ravens. When the torrent dried up, Elijah went to Zarephath, where a widowed woman was instructed to feed him, despite her own poverty. Elijah told her to make him a meal first, and God miraculously sustained her flour and oil. Later, the woman's son became ill and died, but Elijah prayed and God revived the boy, confirming Elijah's status as a man of God.
Chapter 18
The Lord instructed Elijah to show himself to Ahab, and Elijah met Obadiah, who was searching for food for Ahab's horses during a severe famine. Elijah told Obadiah to inform Ahab that he was present, and Obadiah was hesitant, fearing for his life. Elijah reassured Obadiah and met Ahab, challenging the prophets of Baal to a contest on Mount Carmel to determine the true God. The prophets of Baal failed to summon fire, but Elijah successfully called upon the Lord, and fire consumed his sacrifice. The people acknowledged the Lord as the true God, and Elijah had the prophets of Baal killed. Elijah then predicted a great rainstorm, and after praying, a cloud appeared, and a heavy rainstorm occurred, with Elijah running before Ahab's chariot to Jezreel.
Chapter 19
Ahab told Jezebel about Elijah's actions, prompting Jezebel to threaten Elijah's life, causing him to flee to Beersheba and then into the desert. An angel of the Lord provided Elijah with food and water, allowing him to travel for 40 days to Mount Horeb. There, Elijah expressed his zeal for the Lord and his feelings of isolation, but the Lord instructed him to anoint new leaders, including Hazael, Jehu, and Elisha, and to return to his prophetic duties. Elijah then found Elisha, cast his mantle over him, and Elisha followed Elijah after bidding farewell to his family.
Chapter 20
Benhadad, the king of Syria, gathered his army and laid siege to Samaria, demanding that Ahab, the king of Israel, surrender his silver, gold, wives, and sons. Ahab initially agreed but later refused, prompting Benhadad to threaten him. A prophet told Ahab that God would deliver the Syrians into his hands, and Ahab's army, led by the servants of the leaders of the provinces, defeated the Syrians. Benhadad fled, but the Syrians regrouped and returned the following year, only to be defeated again by the Israelites. Benhadad fled once more and was later captured, but Ahab spared his life and made a pact with him, releasing him. A prophet condemned Ahab for releasing Benhadad, saying that Ahab's life would take the place of Benhadad's and that his people would suffer for it.
Chapter 21
Ahab, the king of Samaria, wanted to buy Naboth's vineyard but Naboth refused, citing it as his family's inheritance. Ahab's wife, Jezebel, conspired against Naboth, sending letters to the city's leaders to falsely accuse him of blasphemy, resulting in his stoning. Ahab then took possession of the vineyard, but Elijah prophesied that Ahab and his family would be punished for their evil deeds, including the dogs consuming Jezebel and Ahab's own death. However, when Ahab humbled himself before God, the Lord decided to delay the punishment until the days of Ahab's son.
Chapter 22
The king of Israel, Ahab, and Jehoshaphat, the king of Judah, formed an alliance to retake Ramoth Gilead from the king of Syria. Ahab's prophets predicted success, but Jehoshaphat requested a second opinion from Micaiah, who prophesied defeat and Ahab's death. Ahab ignored Micaiah's warning and disguised himself to go into battle, but was struck by a stray arrow and died. Jehoshaphat escaped and returned to Judah, where he continued to reign and walk in the ways of the Lord, although he did not remove the high places of idol worship.
Share this book