Book 11 of 66 · Old Testament

1 Kings

Solomon's golden reign and the temple, then the kingdom splits and Elijah confronts Ahab.

22 chapters816 versesWritten in HebrewSet Israel and Judah, c. 970–850 BC

Overview

1 Kings covers the height and the fracture of Israel's monarchy. It opens with Solomon — his wisdom, his wealth, and the temple he builds in Jerusalem — then tells how, after his death, the kingdom splits in two: Israel in the north and Judah in the south. The rest follows a line of kings, good and bad, and introduces the prophet Elijah, who confronts King Ahab and the worship of Baal.

Book facts

Author: Unknown; part of the Kings scrollOriginally one book with 2 Kings; the writer is unnamed and drew on royal records.
Date written: c. 560–540 BCCompiled during the exile, from earlier court and prophetic records.
Original language: HebrewHebrew narrative, citing older annals of the kings.
Setting: Israel and Judah, c. 970–850 BCFrom Solomon's reign to the divided kingdom and the prophet Elijah.

How it came to be

1 Kings names no author and was originally one book with 2 Kings. It repeatedly cites older sources — "the book of the acts of Solomon" and the annals of the kings.

It was compiled during the exile, looking back to explain how the kingdom came apart.

What is arguedHow its sources were combined, and when. Most scholars see it as an exilic history built from older royal and prophetic records.

The whole book, chapter by chapter

Chapter	What happens	Who is in it	Where it takes place
Solomon — his reign, the temple, and his decline, chapters 1–11
Chapter 1Adonijah	As David nears death, his son Adonijah tries to seize the throne, but Solomon is made king instead.	, , , ,	—
Chapter 2Solomon established	David gives his last charge, and Solomon secures his throne against his rivals.	, , ,	—
Chapter 3Solomon's wisdom	Solomon asks God for wisdom, and famously judges between two women claiming one baby.
Chapter 4Solomon's officers	Solomon's officials, and the peace and plenty of his reign.		—
Chapter 5The timber of Lebanon	Solomon arranges with Hiram of Tyre for cedar to build the temple.	,	,
Chapter 6The temple built	Solomon builds the temple in Jerusalem over seven years.
Chapter 7The temple furnishings	Solomon builds his palace and the temple's bronze furnishings.	,
Chapter 8The temple dedicated	Solomon dedicates the temple with a great prayer as God's glory fills it.
Chapter 9The Lord's answer	God appears to Solomon a second time, with a promise and a warning.		—
Chapter 10The queen of Sheba	The queen of Sheba visits, amazed at Solomon's wisdom and wealth.	,	—
Chapter 11Solomon's wives	Solomon's many foreign wives turn his heart to other gods, and the kingdom is promised to be torn away.	, ,	—
The kingdom divides — the split into Israel and Judah, chapters 12–16
Chapter 12The kingdom divided	Rehoboam's harshness splits the kingdom; Jeroboam leads the northern tribes away.	,
Chapter 13The man of God	A prophet warns against Jeroboam's altar, and is later killed for disobeying God.
Chapter 14Jeroboam's wife	Ahijah foretells doom on Jeroboam's house; Judah is invaded by Egypt.	, ,	—
Chapter 15Kings of Judah and Israel	A rapid succession of kings in Judah and Israel, most doing evil.		—
Chapter 16The house of Ahab	More northern kings, ending with Ahab, who does more evil than all before him.	, ,
Elijah and Ahab — the prophet against the house of Ahab, chapters 17–22
Chapter 17Elijah and the ravens	Elijah announces a drought and is fed by ravens, then by a widow at Zarephath.
Chapter 18The fire on Carmel	Elijah defeats the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel as fire falls from heaven.	, ,
Chapter 19The still small voice	Fleeing Jezebel, Elijah meets God not in wind or fire but a still small voice, and calls Elisha.	, ,	Horeb
Chapter 20The Syrian wars	Ahab defeats Ben-hadad of Syria twice, but spares him against God's word.	,
Chapter 21Naboth's vineyard	Jezebel has Naboth killed for his vineyard; Elijah pronounces judgment on Ahab's house.	, , ,
Chapter 22Micaiah's prophecy	The prophet Micaiah foretells Ahab's death, and Ahab falls in battle.	, ,	—

All 22 chapters. Start reading →

Worth knowing

Key people

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Key places

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Known for

Some of the book's best-known moments — tap the verse to read it.

Solomon and the two mothers1 Kings 3:25
The queen of Sheba1 Kings 10:1
Fire falls on Carmel1 Kings 18:38
The still small voice1 Kings 19:12