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The Book
of 1 Kings

summaries and outlines

Solomon_Anointing

Book Summary

The books of First and Second Kings are the story of Israel’s decline and shows how Israel divides and falls into the hands of her enemies. The key personalities are David, Solomon, Rehoboam, Jeroboam, Elijah, Ahab, and Jezebel. he book describes the rule of Solomon as the last king of Israel and then the split of the kingdom after his death.

The Bible - Numbers

Title

First and Second Kings were originally one book, called in the Hebrew text, “Kings,” from the first word in 1:1. The Greek translation of the OT, the Septuagint (LXX), divided the book in two, and this was followed by the Latin Vulgate (Vg.) version and English translations. .

[Source: NKJV MacArthur Study Bible, 2nd Edition. Copyright © 1997, 2006, 2019 by Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved..]

hebrew_writing

Author and Date of Writing

The author of 1–2 Kings is unknown. Jewish tradition deems it to be Jeremiah, but no biblical evidence supports that assumption, and what we know of Jeremiah’s chronology probably rules out authorship by Jeremiah

The Book of 1 Kings was likely written between 560 and 540 B.C.

[Source:NIV Theology Study Bible, Copyright © 2010 by Zondervan.]

1 Kings Outline

I. The United Kingdom of Solomon (1 Kgs 1:1—11:43)

  1. Solomon’s Accession (1:1—2:46)
    1. Adonijah Sets Himself Up as King (1:1–14)
    2. David’s Decision Sought (1:15–27)
    3. David Makes Solomon King (1:28–53)
    4. David’s Charge to Solomon (2:1–12)
    5. Solomon’s Throne Established (2:13–46)
  2. Solomon’s Wisdom (3:1–28)
    1. 1Solomon Asks for Wisdom (3:1–15)
    2. A Wise Ruling (3:16–28)
  3. Solomon’s Kingdom (4:1–34)
    1. Solomon’s Officials and Governors (4:1–19)
    2. Solomon’s Realm (4:20–28)
    3. Solomon’s Wisdom (4:29–34)
  4. Solomon’s Temple (5:1—9:9)
    1. Preparations for Building the Temple (5:1–18)
    2. Solomon Builds the Temple (6:1–38)
    3. Solomon Builds His Palace (7:1–12)
    4. The Temple’s Furnishings (7:13–51)
    5. The Temple’s Dedication (8:1–66)
      1. The Ark Brought to the Temple (8:1–21)
      2. Solomon’s Prayer of Dedication (8:22–61)
      3. Dedicatory Sacrifices and a Festival (8:62–66)
    6. The Lord Appears to Solomon (9:1–9)
  5. Solomon’s Other Activities (9:10—10:29)
    1. Solomon’s Actions (9:10–28)
    2. The Queen of Sheba Visits Solomon (10:1–13)
    3. Solomon’s Splendor (10:14–29)
  6. Solomon’s Condemnation (11:1–43)
    1. Solomon’s Wives (11:1–13)
    2. Solomon’s Adversaries (11:14–25)
    3. Jeroboam Rebels Against Solomon (11:26–40)
    4. Solomon’s Death (11:41–43

II. The Kings of Israel and Judah Until Ahab (12:1—16:34)

  1. Israel Rebels Against Rehoboam (12:1–24)
  2. Golden Calves at Bethel and Dan (12:25–33)
  3. The Man of God From Judah (13:1–34)
  4. Ahijah’s Prophecy Against Jeroboam (14:1–20)
  5. Rehoboam King of Judah (14:21–31)
  6. Abijah King of Judah (15:1–8)
  7. Asa King of Judah (15:9–24)
  8. Nadab King of Israel (15:25–32)
  9. Baasha King of Israel (15:33—16:7)
  10. Elah King of Israel (16:8–14)
  11. Zimri King of Israel (16:15–20)
  12. Omri King of Israel (16:21–28)
  13. Ahab Becomes King of Israel (16:29–34)

III. The Prophetic Ministries of Elijah and Elisha (1 Kgs 17:1—2 Kgs 10:36)

  1. Elijah’s Confrontation With Baal (1 Kgs 17:1—18:46)
    1. Elijah Announces a Great Drought (17:1)
    2. Elijah Fed by Ravens (17:2–6)
    3. Elijah and the Widow at Zarephath (17:7–24)
    4. Elijah and Obadiah (18:1–15)
    5. Elijah on Mount Carmel (18:16–46)
  2. Elijah Flees to Horeb (19:1–9a)
  3. The Lord Appears to Elijah (19:9b–18)
  4. The Call of Elisha (19:19–21)
  5. Ahab’s Conflicts With the Arameans (20:1–43)
    1. Ben-Hadad Attacks Samaria (20:1–12)
    2. Ahab Defeats Ben-Hadad (20:13–34)
    3. A Prophet Condemns Ahab (20:35–43)
  6. Naboth’s Vineyard (21:1–29)
  7. Ahab’s Death (22:1–40)
    1. Micaiah Prophesies Against Ahab (22:1–28)
    2. Ahab Killed at Ramoth Gilead (22:29–40)
  8. Jehoshaphat King of Judah (22:41–50)
  9. Ahaziah King of Israel (22:51–53)
  1. Elijah’s Confrontation With Baal (1 Kgs 17:1—18:46)
    1. Elijah Announces a Great Drought (17:1)
    2. Elijah Fed by Ravens (17:2–6)
    3. Elijah and the Widow at Zarephath (17:7–24)
    4. Elijah and Obadiah (18:1–15)
    5. Elijah on Mount Carmel (18:16–46)
  2. Elijah Flees to Horeb (19:1–9a)
  3. The Lord Appears to Elijah (19:9b–18)
  4. The Call of Elisha (19:19–21)
  5. Ahab’s Conflicts With the Arameans (20:1–43)
    1. Ben-Hadad Attacks Samaria (20:1–12)
    2. Ahab Defeats Ben-Hadad (20:13–34)
    3. A Prophet Condemns Ahab (20:35–43)
  6. Naboth’s Vineyard (21:1–29)
  7. Ahab’s Death (22:1–40)
    1. Micaiah Prophesies Against Ahab (22:1–28)
    2. Ahab Killed at Ramoth Gilead (22:29–40)
  8. Jehoshaphat King of Judah (22:41–50)
  9. Ahaziah King of Israel (22:51–53)
    1. [2 KINGS BELOW]
  10. The Lord’s Judgment on Ahaziah (2 Kgs 1:1–18)
  11. Elijah Taken Up to Heaven (2:1–18)
  12. Elisha’s Ministry (2:19—8:15)
    1. Healing of the Water (2:19–22)
    2. Elisha Is Jeered (2:23–25)
    3. Moab Revolts (3:1–27)
    4. The Widow’s Olive Oil (4:1–7)
    5. The Shunammite’s Son Restored to Life (4:8–37)
    6. Death in the Pot (4:38–41)
    7. Feeding of a Hundred (4:42–44)
    8. Naaman Healed of Leprosy (5:1–27)
    9. An Axhead Floats (6:1–7)
    10. Elisha Traps Blinded Arameans (6:8–23)
    11. Famine in Besieged Samaria (6:24—7:2)
    12. The Siege Lifted (7:3–20)
    13. The Shunammite’s Land Restored (8:1–6)
    14. Hazael Murders Ben-Hadad (8:7–15)
  13. Jehoram King of Judah (8:16–24)
  14. Ahaziah King of Judah (8:25–29)
  15. Jehu King of Israel (9:1—10:36)
    1. Jehu Anointed King of Israel (9:1–13)
    2. Jehu Kills Joram and Ahaziah (9:14–29)
    3. Jezebel Killed (9:30–37)
    4. Ahab’s Family Killed (10:1–17)
    5. Servants of Baal Killed (10:18–36)

IV. The Kings of Israel and Judah Until Israel’s Exile (11:1—17:41)

  1. Joash King of Israel (11:1—12:21)
  2. Athaliah and Joash (11:1–21)
  3. Joash Repairs the Temple (12:1–21)
  4. Jehoahaz King of Israel (13:1–9)
  5. Jehoash King of Israel (13:10–25)
  6. Amaziah King of Judah (14:1–22)
  7. Jeroboam II King of Israel (14:23–29)
  8. Azariah King of Judah (15:1–7)
  9. The Final Kings of Israel (15:8–31)
    1. Zechariah King of Israel (15:8–12)
    2. Shallum King of Israel (15:13–16)
    3. Menahem King of Israel (15:17–22)
    4. Pekahiah King of Israel (15:23–26)
    5. Pekah King of Israel (15:27–31)
  10. Jotham King of Judah (15:32–38)
  11. Ahaz King of Judah (16:1–20)
  12. Hoshea Last King of Israel (17:1–6)
  13. Israel Exiled Because of Sin (17:7–23)
  14. Samaria Resettled (17:24–41

V. The Last Kings of Judah (18:1—25:30)

  1. Hezekiah King of Judah (18:1—20:21)
    1. Hezekiah’s Reign (18:1–16)
    2. Sennacherib Threatens Jerusalem (18:17–37)
    3. Jerusalem’s Deliverance Foretold (19:1–13)
    4. Hezekiah’s Prayer (19:14–19)
    5. Isaiah Prophesies Sennacherib’s Fall (19:20–37)
    6. Hezekiah’s Illness (20:1–11)
    7. Envoys From Babylon (20:12–21)
  2. Manasseh King of Judah (21:1–18)
  3. Amon King of Judah (21:19–26)
  4. Josiah King of Judah (22:1—23:30)
    1. The Book of the Law Found (22:1–20)
    2. Josiah Renews the Covenant (23:1–30)
  5. The Final Four Kings of Judah (23:31—24:20a)
    1. Jehoahaz King of Judah (23:31–35)
    2. Jehoiakim King of Judah (23:36—24:7)
    3. Jehoiachin King of Judah (24:8–17)
    4. Zedekiah King of Judah (24:18–20a)
  6. The Fall of Jerusalem (24:20b—25:26)
  7. Jehoiachin Released (25:27–30)
Adapted from: NIV Biblical Theology Study Bible, Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.

References and Sources:

Anointing of Soloman Painting  

By Cornelis de Vos – Kunsthistorisches Museum, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=5133307