Who Wrote This Book: The author is not known for certain, but is believed to be the prophet Jeremiah.
Date of Writing: The book was probably composed in Palestine sometime between the fall of Jerusalem (587/586 B.C.) and the decree of King Cyrus of Persia that permitted the Hebrews to return to their homeland (539 B.C.).
Written To & Why It Was Written: The date of its composition is believed to be from B.C. 561 to B.C. 538. "The book was written for the Jews who had witnessed the catastrophe of 587 and for their children whose faith was wavering. It was intended to instruct and encourage them, to elicit from them acts of repentance for their past sins, and to renew their hopes for the future. It was written to answer the distressing questions raised by the events of 587. The author instructs the exiles by demonstrating that Israel through her kings had been unfaithful to the covenant, and that God, far from being unfaithful to his part of the covenant, had remained faithful with erring Israel long after Israel's infidelity had released him from any covenant bonds. He writes, therefore, to convince his people that they and not God have been unfaithful. The author's purpose, however, is not only to instruct but also to encourage. Thus, he returns repeatedly to the promise of perpetuity made to the Davidic dynasty and to the eternal bond between the dynasty, the Temple, and Jerusalem. These promises have never been annulled and it is upon their fulfillment that Israel must place her hopes for the future." 1 Kings carries the history of Israel from the last days and death of David to the accession in Samaria of Ahaziah, son of Ahab, near the end of the reign of Jehoshaphat, king of Judah. Judgment is passed on Ahaziah's reign but the details are given only later, in 2 Kings.
The principal divisions of the Books of Kings are:
- The Reign of Solomon (1 Kings 1:1-11:43)
- Judah and Israel to the Time of Ahab (1 Kings 12:1-16:34)
- Stories of the Prophets (1 Kings 17:1-22:54)
Bible Scriptures
1 Kings is book number 11 of the Bible. It contains 22 chapters.
Bible Scriptures from 1 Kings and 2 Kings are called by the Hebrews the books of Samuel, because they contain the history of Samuel, and of the two kings, Saul and David, whom he anointed.
Who wrote the Book of Kings 1? It is uncertain but the common opinion is that Samuel composed the first book, as far as the twenty-fifth chapter; and that the prophets Nathan and Gad finished the first, and wrote the second book. See 1 Chronicles 29:29
The two books of Kings formed originally one book in the Hebrew Scriptures. They cover the period of about 450 years from the reign of Solomon till the conquest of the kingdom by Nebuchadnezzar and the Babylonians between the 10th and 6th centuries BC.
Bible Stories
- David has Solomon anointed as the next king
- The wisdom of Solomon - Famous for settling the argument about a baby he orders to be cut in half so he can determine who is the real mother - Bible reference 3:24-26
- Solomon becomes Israel's wisest and richest king and builds Israel's first temple to God in Jerusalem. (The temple of Solomon)
- The golden age of Solomon
- Solomon’s decline and death
- Queen of Sheba (1 Kings 10:1-13), Elijah, Ahab, Jezebel (1 Kings 16:31) and Elisha. The Biblical stories, plot, characters and events are detailed in 1 Kings.
Key Verses:
1 Kings 11:10:
Although he had forbidden Solomon to follow other gods, Solomon did not keep the LORD's command. (NIV)
1 Kings 11:11:
So the LORD said to Solomon, "Since this is your attitude and you have not kept my covenant and my decrees, which I commanded you, I will most certainly tear the kingdom away from you and give it to one of your subordinates." (NIV)
1 Kings 18:21:
Elijah went before the people and said, "How long will you waver between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him." But the people said nothing. (NIV)
1 Kings 18:38:
Then the fire of the LORD fell and burned up the sacrifice, the wood, the stones and the soil, and also licked up the water in the trench. (NIV)
