Unknown; Jeremiah according to Jewish tradition. Written: Completed during the exile in Babylon (around 560 BC), drawing on the royal annals

History · Old Testament · 22 chapters

The book of 1 Kings

Solomon’s glory and the torn kingdom

Author: Unknown; Jeremiah according to Jewish tradition
Written: Completed during the exile in Babylon (around 560 BC), drawing on the royal annals
Time covered: About 120 years, from the end of David’s life (around 970 BC) to the beginning of Ahaziah’s reign in Israel (around 853 BC)
Key word: Division

The dying David has Solomon anointed, and Solomon secures his throne. God grants him unmatched wisdom; Solomon builds the temple in seven years, and the glory of the LORD fills it. The queen of Sheba marvels at his wisdom and riches. But his foreign wives turn his heart toward idols. At his death, Rehoboam makes the yoke heavier: ten tribes follow Jeroboam, who sets up golden calves at Bethel and Dan. The kings of Israel succeed one another in sin, down to Ahab and Jezebel, worshipers of Baal. Facing them, Elijah announces the drought, triumphs on Mount Carmel and prophesies Ahab’s downfall.

Main theme

The king’s faithfulness to the covenant determines the people’s fate: under Solomon, Israel knows wisdom, the temple and peace; idolatry brings about the division of the kingdom, and God raises up Elijah to remind them that the LORD alone is God.

Outline

1 Kings 1-2 — Solomon succeeds David
Adonijah’s attempt fails, Solomon is anointed and secures his reign.
1 Kings 3-11 — Solomon’s glorious reign
Wisdom, construction and dedication of the temple, international fame, then idolatry and judgment.
1 Kings 12-16 — The divided kingdom
Rehoboam and Jeroboam, the golden calves, then a series of kings down to Ahab.
1 Kings 17-22 — Elijah confronts Ahab
Drought, Carmel, Horeb, Naboth’s vineyard and Ahab’s death at Ramoth-gilead.

Key points

Solomon asks God for an understanding heart to judge his people; God gives him riches and glory as well (3:9-13).
The temple is built in seven years, and the glory of the LORD fills it at the dedication (6:38; 8:10-11).
Solomon’s foreign wives turn his heart toward other gods: the kingdom will be torn apart (11:4, 11).
Rehoboam follows the counsel of the young men, and ten tribes break away to form the kingdom of Israel under Jeroboam (12:14-20).
Jeroboam sets up two golden calves at Bethel and at Dan: a sin that will mark all the kings of Israel (12:28-30).
On Mount Carmel, God answers by fire and confounds the prophets of Baal (18:38-39).
At Horeb, God reveals himself to a discouraged Elijah not in grandeur, but in a still small voice (19:11-12).
Jezebel has Naboth stoned so that Ahab can have his vineyard; Ahab later dies according to the word of the LORD (21:13, 19; 22:37-38).

Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?

1 Kings 3:9 — Solomon’s model prayer: asking for wisdom in order to serve, not for possessions for himself.

But will God indeed dwell on the earth? behold, the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house that I have builded?

1 Kings 8:27 — At the heart of the dedication: the God whom the heavens cannot contain nevertheless chooses to put his name in a house.

For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the Lord his God, as was the heart of David his father.

1 Kings 11:4 — Solomon’s tragedy: a divided heart, no longer wholly devoted to the LORD.

Jesus in 1 Kings

Jesus is “a greater than Solomon” (Matt 12:42): the true Son of David, the very wisdom of God, who builds a greater temple, his risen body and his Church (John 2:19-21). Elijah, the prophet of fire, foreshadows John the Baptist, who came “in the spirit and power of Elijah” (Luke 1:17) to prepare the way of the Lord, and he appears with Moses beside Jesus transfigured (Matt 17:3).

Did you know?

During the building of the temple, no hammer, ax or any tool of iron was heard: the stones were cut at the quarry (6:7).
More than three centuries in advance, a man of God names King Josiah, who will destroy the altar of Bethel (13:2; 2 Kgs 23:15-16).
One of the two bronze pillars of the temple was called Boaz (7:21), like David’s great-grandfather.

Quiz on 1 Kings

What does Solomon ask of God in the dream at Gibeon?

Which king of Tyre supplies Solomon with the cedars of Lebanon for the temple?

Where does Elijah confront the prophets of Baal?

There are many more questions like these in Bible Academy, each with its explanation and verse. Start your free trial.