1 Kings
I. Introduction
A. 1 Kings
B. What will happen after David?
C. 1 Kings covers the period from David's death to Ahab's death
D. Sin and Division
1. Solomon's kingdom is divided
2. Israel continues in sin
3. Judah struggles
E. Let us consider 1 Kings
II. 1 Kings: The Details
A. Authorship
1. Author entirely unknown
2. No doubt of its inspiration
3. Acts 7:47-48/1 Kings 6, 8
4. Author seems responsible for 1 Samuel, 2 Samuel, 1 Kings,
2 Kings
5. In Greek Septuagint, book called 3 Reigns
B. Dating
1. Events involve 130 years of history, from David through Ahab
(ca. 950-820 BCE)
2. Book likely based on records, information nearly
contemporaneous with events
3. Actual final composition likely around the exile
(ca. 586 BCE)
C. Audience
1. The audience of the book is Israel in exile and beyond
2. We can also gain much from it
D. Purpose
1. To describe Solomon's reign, the building of the Temple,
and God's messages to the kings of Israel and Judah through
the prophets
2. To demonstrate Israel’s unfaithfulness to God during the
period of the kings
3. To indicate the need to follow God's will
III. 1 Kings: The Story
A. Main Sections
1. Solomon (1 Kings 1-11)
2. A Kingdom Divided (1 Kings 12-14)
3. The Kingdoms to Ahab (1 Kings 15-16)
4. Elijah and Ahab (1 Kings 17-22)
B. David and Solomon (1 Kings 1-2)
1. David old; warmed by Abishag (1 Kings 1:1-4)
2. Adonijah sets himself up as king; Joab and Abiathar follow
(1 Kings 1:5-10)
3. Nathan, Bathsheba confirm with David: Solomon to be king
(1 Kings 1:11-17)
4. David instructs Zadok, Nathan, and Benaiah to establish
Solomon as king; they do so (1 Kings 1:28-40)
5. Adonijah informed, is alarmed; begs mercy from Solomon
(1 Kings 1:41-53)
6. David instructs Solomon to follow God; "take care" of Joab
and Shimei; remember Barzillai's kindness (1 Kings 2:1-9)
7. David dies; Solomon established (1 Kings 2:10-12)
8. Adonijah requests Abishag as wife through Bathsheba; Solomon
has him executed for it (1 Kings 2:13-25)
9. Solomon has Abiathar exiled to his own house; prophecy to Eli
fulfilled (1 Kings 2:26-27)
10. Joab flees to tent of the LORD; killed there
(1 Kings 2:28-35)
11. Shimei instructed to stay in Jerusalem; he departs; executed
(1 Kings 2:36-46)
C. Solomon's Greatness (1 Kings 3-4)
1. Solomon marries Pharaoh's daughter (1 Kings 3:1-2)
2. Solomon follows God; offers offerings to God; at Gibeon, God
asks what Solomon desires; wisdom; God gives him wisdom and
riches and honor (1 Kings 3:3-15)
3. Two prostitutes come before Solomon; he judges their case
wisely; all Israel impressed (1 Kings 3:16-28)
4. Solomon's officials (1 Kings 4:1-6)
5. Officer for each tribe to make provisions (1 Kings 4:7-19)
6. Peace and prosperity; provisions necessary for the king
(1 Kings 4:20-28)
7. Exceeding greatness of Solomon's wisdom and knowledge
(1 Kings 4:29-34)
D. Building the Temple (1 Kings 5:1-9:9)
1. Solomon requests cedars from Hiram king of Tyre; granted
(1 Kings 5:1-12)
2. Solomon drafts forced labor, has wood brought down, rock
quarried (1 Kings 5:13-18)
3. Temple begun in 4th year of Solomon, 480th year since Exodus
(1 Kings 6:1)
4. Description of structure (1 Kings 6:2-10)
5. God will establish Himself in the house if Israel is faithful
(1 Kings 6:11-13)
6. Description of Temple: holy place, holy of holies, its walls,
doorposts, etc. (1 Kings 6:14-36)
7. Beginning and completion of Temple (1 Kings 6:37-38)
8. Building of Solomon's palace (1 Kings 7:1-12)
9. Solomon commissions Hiram of Tyre to fashion Temple implements
in bronze (1 Kings 7:13-51)
10. Assembly of Israel; Ark brought into Temple; overwhelming
number of sacrifices (1 Kings 8:1-11)
11. Solomon invokes, blesses the LORD (1 Kings 8:12-21)
12. Solomon dedicates Temple through prayer to God
(1 Kings 8:22-53)
13. Solomon blesses Israel, exhorts them to faithfulness
(1 Kings 8:54-61)
14. Seven day feast; plenty of offerings (1 Kings 8:62-66)
15. The LORD appears to Solomon; He consecrates the Temple;
exhortation to faithfulness, warnings regarding
disobedience (1 Kings 9:1-9)
E. Acts of Solomon (1 Kings 9:10-11:29)
1. Solomon gives Hiram 20 cities of Galilee for all of the
materials (1 Kings 9:10-14)
2. Building of Millo, store cities; Canaanites and others
enslaved (1 Kings 9:15-23)
3. Offerings to God; fleet of ships in the Red Sea, their travels
and acquisitions (1 Kings 9:24-28)
4. Queen of Sheba hears of Solomon’s wisdom; comes to him and put
forth matters to him; quite impressed with his wisdom; great
amount of spices and stones given (1 Kings 10:1-10)
5. Hiram's ships also provide exotic material (1 Kings 10:11-12)
6. Solomon gives the Queen whatever she wishes; she returns to
her own land (1 Kings 10:13)
7. Great wealth of Solomon: gold, ivory throne; wealth more vast
than any other king; great number of chariots and horsemen
(1 Kings 10:14-29)
F. Solomon's Downfall (1 Kings 11)
1. Solomon has 700 wives, 300 concubines; they induce him to
serve other gods (1 Kings 11:1-8)
2. Solomon's son will suffer division of kingdom
(1 Kings 11:9-13)
3. Hadad the Edomite rebels against Solomon, as does Rezon of
Syria (1 Kings 11:14-25)
4. Jeroboam son of Nebat, former servant of Solomon; Ahijah the
prophet meets him, indicates that he will be made king of
ten tribes of Israel; Solomon thus seeks Jeroboam's life, he
flees to Egypt (1 Kings 11:26-40)
5. Solomon reigns 40 years; dies; Rehoboam his son then rules
(1 Kings 11:41-43)
G. Rehoboam and Jeroboam (1 Kings 12)
1. Rehoboam asked to make load lighter on Israel; elders agree,
young men disagree; Rehoboam follows young men; Israel
revolts (1 Kings 12:1-15)
2. Jeroboam brought back, made king over ten tribes of Israel
(1 Kings 12:16-20)
3. Rehoboam musters an army; Shemaiah man of God tells him that
this is from the LORD; Rehoboam demurs; remains king of Judah
(1 Kings 12:21-24)
4. Jeroboam's apostasy: golden calves in Dan and Bethel,
non-Levite priests, changes in dates of festivals
(1 Kings 12:25-33)
H. Jeroboam's Downfall (1 Kings 13-14)
1. Man of God predicts that Josiah will destroy temples of
Jeroboam (1 Kings 13:1-3)
2. Jeroboam orders man seized; his hand dries up; man released;
food offered him; he refuses based on God's word to him
(1 Kings 13:4-10)
3. Man of God meets old prophet in Bethel; encourages him to
share a meal; man initially refuses; prophet lies, says angel
spoke to him; man comes and eats (1 Kings 13:11-18)
4. Word of the Lord comes to prophet, predicts downfall for the
man for his disobedience; met by a lion in the road who kills
him (1 Kings 13:19-25)
5. Prophet hears of it, buries man in his own grave, intends to
be buried there also; condemnation of Jeroboam's temples
confirmed (1 Kings 13:26-32)
6. Jeroboam continues in evil; Jeroboam's son becomes ill;
Jeroboam sends wife to Ahijah; Ahijah knows who she is,
foretells the death of their son on account of their
idolatry; takes place; Jeroboam also dies after reigning 22
years (1 Kings 13:33-14:19)
7. Rehoboam reigns in Judah 17 years; Judah acts wickedly;
Shishak king of Egypt plunders Temple; death of Rehoboam
(1 Kings 14:20-30)
I. To Ahab (1 Kings 15-16)
1. Abijam rules 3 years in Judah; wicked (1 Kings 15:1-8)
2. Asa rules Judah 41 years; good king, even removing his own
mother from her position because of her idolatry; constant
conflict between him and Baasha; covenants with Aram to hinder
Israel; builds Geba and Mizpah with the material Baasha used
in Ramah (1 Kings 15:9-24)
3. Nadab reigns two years in Israel; Baasha conspires against
him, kills him and the house of Jeroboam, as predicted by
Ahijah (1 Kings 15:25-32)
4. Baasha reigns 24 years in Israel; Jehu predicts downfall of
his house (1 Kings 15:33-16:7)
5. Elah reigns 2 years in Israel; Zimri kills him, takes throne;
kills all the house of Baasha, as predicted by Jehu
(1 Kings 16:8-14)
6. Zimri reigns 7 days; Omri, commander of army, named king by
all Israel; Tirzah besieged, Zimri throws self in burning
palace and dies (1 Kings 16:15-20)
7. Omri versus Tibni, Omri successful; reigned 12 years; built
Samaria (1 Kings 16:21-28)
8. Ahab reigns 22 years; quite evil; marries Jezebel daughter of
Ethbaal king of Sidon; served Baal and Asherah
(1 Kings 16:29-33)
9. Hiel of Bethel rebuilds Jericho; loses firstborn and lastborn
as Joshua said (1 Kings 16:34)
J. Elijah and the Drought (1 Kings 17)
1. Elijah tells Ahab about the drought; flees to Transjordan;
fed by ravens there (1 Kings 17:1-7)
2. Elijah goes to widow of Zarephath; she has only a little food;
God continues to provide for them (1 Kings 17:8-16)
3. Widow's son dies; Elijah prays; boy revives (1 Kings 17:17-24)
K. Elijah vs. Ahab, YHWH vs. Baal (1 Kings 18)
1. In third year, God sends Elijah to confront Ahab; Ahab tells
Obadiah, who had previously hidden prophets of God from
Jezebel, to find water and grass (1 Kings 18:1-6)
2. Elijah meets Obadiah, tells him to tell Ahab that he is there;
Obadiah concerned for his welfare; Elijah gives him assurance;
Ahab and Elijah meet (1 Kings 18:7-16)
3. Ahab addresses Elijah as troubler of Israel; Elijah says that
such is Ahab; contest between Baal and YHWH
(1 Kings 18:17-19)
4. Contest established: 2 altars, 2 offerings, everything but
fire: 450 Baal prophets to cry to Baal to bring down fire,
Elijah to pray to YHWH for fire (1 Kings 18:20-24)
5. Baal prophets go first; nothing comes; Elijah mocks them;
they cut themselves, still no fire; went on most of the day
(1 Kings 18:25-29)
6. Elijah summons people to him; builds altar to YHWH with 12
stones; trench made around altar, filled with water; wood
for offering also drenched with water (1 Kings 18:30-35)
7. Elijah petitions YHWH; fire comes from Heaven, consumes
offering, wood, stones, dust, and water; people confess that
YHWH is God; Baal prophets seized; Elijah executes them
(1 Kings 18:36-40)
8. Ahab told to go eat and drink, for rain is coming; nothing
seen seven times; little cloud seen, and rain begins to fall
heavily (1 Kings 18:41-46)
L. Elijah in the Wilderness (1 Kings 19)
1. Jezebel threatens Elijah's life; he flees to south Judah
(1 Kings 19:1-3)
2. Elijah despairs of life; angel comes and brings him
nourishment (1 Kings 19:4-7)
3. Comes to Horeb; stays 40 days and nights; sees wind,
earthquake, fire; LORD not there (1 Kings 19:8-12)
4. Sound of silence afterward; LORD there; Elijah comes out; puts
forth his claim (1 Kings 19:13-14)
5. God tells him to return and get busy: between Hazael of Syria,
Jehu of Israel, and Elisha the prophet, God will gain the
victory; 7000 remain in Israel who have not bowed to Baal
(1 Kings 19:15-18)
6. Elijah meets Elisha, places his cloak over him; becomes
Elijah's assistant (1 Kings 19:19-21)
M. Ahab and Aram (1 Kings 20)
1. Ben-hadad king of Aram fights Ahab; fought against Samaria;
Ahab sends message of peace; Ben-hadad seeks too much; Ahab
rejects his offer (1 Kings 20:1-12)
2. Prophet tells Ahab that YHWH will deliver Aram into his hand;
fight takes place, Israel successful (1 Kings 20:13-21)
3. Prophet warns that Aram will return next year; Aramaeans take
YHWH to be a god of the hills, believe success will come on
the plain (1 Kings 20:22-25)
4. Great victory for Israel at Aphek; Ben-hadad captured,
released by Ahab after conceding land and bazaar space
(1 Kings 20:26-34)
5. Prophet condemns Ahab: because he spared Ben-hadad, he will
die, and Israel will be subdued (1 Kings 20:35-43)
N. Naboth's Vineyard (1 Kings 21)
1. Naboth has vineyard; Ahab wants it; refuses to give it up
(1 Kings 21:1-4)
2. Ahab despondent; Jezebel connives to have Naboth executed;
Ahab takes vineyard (1 Kings 21:5-16)
3. Elijah comes, pronounces condemnation on Ahab and his house
(1 Kings 21:17-26)
4. Ahab repents; LORD tells Elijah that disaster will come upon
Ahab's son (1 Kings 21:27-29)
O. Ahab's Death (1 Kings 22)
1. Aram vs. Israel; Jehoshaphat king of Judah allies with Ahab
against Aram (1 Kings 22:1-4)
2. Jehoshaphat seeks to inquire of YHWH; Ahab brings prophets who
speak positively of campaign; Jehoshaphat seeks another; Ahab
speaks of Micaiah, but he always speaks evil of Ahab
(1 Kings 22:5-8)
3. Micaiah summoned; initially speaks positively; later tells of
the throne scene where God sends lying spirits so that Ahab
will fight and meet disaster (1 Kings 22:13-23)
4. Micaiah struck by Zedekiah who spoke positively of the fight;
Micaiah again imprisoned, testifies to what will happen to
Ahab (1 Kings 22:24-29)
5. Ahab disguises himself, and yet is still hit with an arrow;
dies; word of the LORD comes true (1 Kings 22:30-40)
6. Jehoshaphat reigns in Judah 25 years; does well; made peace
with Israel; failed expedition to Ophir (1 Kings 22:41-50)
7. Ahaziah king of Israel; does wickedly (1 Kings 22:51-53)
IV. 1 Kings: Important Passages
A. 1 Kings 6:1
1. Provides dating structure for events before Solomon
2. Helpful framework for discussion
B. 1 Kings 8:27
1. cf. Acts 7:48
2. Demonstration that God not confined to a building!
C. 1 Kings 12:25-33
1. Sins of Jeroboam
2. Led Israel into sin for generations
3. Subtle changes of what God revealed for political expediency!
D. Elijah and the Drought (1 Kings 17)
1. James 5:17-18: power of prayer
2. Luke 4:25-26: condemnation of Israel that Elijah goes to
Zarephath
3. Elijah as type of Jesus
E. 1 Kings 18:17
1. Ahab sees Elijah as troubler of Israel
2. Yet who really is troubling Israel?
3. Matter of perception!
F. 1 Kings 19:15-18
1. Romans 11:2-6
2. Demonstration of faithful remnant to God!
V. Conclusion
A. We have seen the events of 1 Kings
1. The best-- and worst-- of Israel
2. Glory days of Solomon
3. Depravity of Ahab
B. It is quite important to serve God!
C. Invitation/songbook