Bible Summary (1st Book of Kings) 1 Kings

Introduction

Samuel tried to warn the Israelites about having a king, but they demanded one like the rest of the nations. The Lord told Samuel they had been warned and allowed them to experience it for themselves. King Saul had been a failure, not trusting in the Lord. King David committed some serious sin but repented to be reconciled with the Lord.

During King David’s reign, Israel ‘s military had grown stronger, gaining more territory and defeating its enemies all around. The nation experienced prosperity, enough to buy new land and save up supplies for a Temple of its own, but the Lord had also warned he did not need a house made of stone. Because of David’s persistence, the Lord would allow his son to build one.

There were also some times of famine. The ability of a king to unite an entire kingdom was short-lived as David’s sons began to eye the thrown for themselves. One son, Absalom tried to take the throne. His efforts weakened David and the kingdom. Absalom was eventually killed by Joab. As David was returning home, there was a rift between the tribe of Judah and the 10 tribes in the north that was not fully resolved.

David in his old age, after the loss of his son Absalom, did not want any more confrontations. Adonijah, one of his other sons was beginning to make claims to the throne.

Chapter 1

David in old age
Adonijah’s goals
Solomon Appointed King
Adonijah submits

David was getting old. His physical strength was waning and his ability to hold authority over the kingdom was also waning. They brought a young nurse named Abishag to care for him and keep him warm. (they had no relations).

Adonijah, one of David’s sons, started to proclaim himself the next king. He was the next in age after Absalom, by the same mother, as was beginning to cause the same problem as Absalom. David did not want a confrontation and avoided the problem. Joab and Zeruiah sided with Adonijah. Zadok, Nathan, and Benaiah did not support Adonijah.

Adonijah called for a feast at En-rogel, south of the city, inviting royal officials to increase his power.

Nathan, being a wise prophet, saw an opening. As the sinners were out preparing their celebration they would not be watching the king. Nathan instructed Bathsheba to speak to the king and remind him of his promise to Solomon. He would also come to support her.

Bathsheeba reminded David that if he died without appointing an heir, she and Solomon would be outcasts. Nathan asked David if he had appointed Adonijah king, as Adonijah was acting like it. Adonijah had not invited Nathan nor Zadok, nor Benaiah, nor Solomon to his celebrations.

King David, recognizing his failure to act would cause them all harm, found his inner courage again, calling upon the Lord and appointed Solomon king, fulfilling a prior oath he had sworn to Bathsheeba.

Solomon was placed on the king’s donkey and brought to the Gihon (spring of water). There he was anointed with oil from the holy tabernacle, king of Israel and Judah, with the blessing of his father.

1,000 years later, Jesus would enter Jerusalem riding on a donkey, a connection to Solomon, the son of David.

When the ram’s horn blew, Adonijah and his party were shocked. As they heard the account of Solomon chosen as king, Adonijah’s guests abandoned him.

Adonijah went to the altar of the Tabernacle to submit and plead for mercy. Solomon promised his treatment would depend on whether Adonijah would be proven to be faithful and truthful or be a liar. He sends Adonijah to his house.

Chapter 2

Final Blessing
King David dies
Solomon is King
Traitors Addressed

David gives Solomon wise words to trust in the Lord. Solomon seems young at this point, in need of encouragement.

David also warns Solomon of Joab, who was always a thorn deciding things for himself against the direction of the king, and of others who were loyal or would cause dissent.

King David died. He was king for 40 years.

Solomon becomes king (40 years)

Adonijah, instead of living in peace, came to Bathsheeba for a request. He acted like he was owed something for losing the throne to Solomon and asked for Abishag, King Davids’s servant, to be his wife.

Bathsheeba did not detect Adonijah’s plot, but Solomon did. Solomon understood that Abishag was a servant of David and Adonijah was looking for ways to gain more power. What better way than having a wife who was loyal to King David. It would be as important as gaining one of David’s priests or military commanders. It was a treacherous plot.

Solomon judges by his earlier words about Adonijah. If Adonijah was truthful in his submission and allegiance to the throne, he would be shown mercy. If he was a liar, he would not be shown mercy. Adonijah thought he was owed something and was looking for ways to regain power. Solomon recognized the threat and sends Benaiah to strike Adonijah dead.

Abiathar, the priest who had sided with Adonijah, was also judged to deserve death but in mercy was instead stripped of the priesthood and sent away. Zadok was put in his place.

Joab, the once confident, strong, self-willed commander of David, was now stricken with fear for siding with Adoniah. He ran to the horns of the Tabernacle as Adonijah had done pleading for mercy. Joab had no right to be in the Tabernacle area and being a traitor was killed where he stood. Benaiah was appointed over the army in Joab’s place.

Shimei, the one who had cursed David, was commanded to stay at his house or face death. 3 years later, he didn’t listen to the warning and was put to death.

The royal kingdom was now firmly in Solomon’s power.

Chapter 3

Solomon’s Egyptian Wife
Wisdom granted to Solomon
The 2 Women and a Child

The people wanted a king like other nations. A common practice of kings of the time was to have multiple wives from other nations to help keep the peace and grow in power. For Israelites, this was very dangerous as they often followed other people into sin and their false gods.

For Solomon, taking an Egyptian wife was a possible problem. Verse 3 mentions that although he loved the Lord, he offered sacrifice and burned incense on the high places.

The Lord appeared to Solomon to grant him whatever he wanted. Because of his humbleness and thanks to the Lord, he asked for a listening heart to help judge the people wisely. Because he did not ask for long life, nor riches, nor for revenge, the Lord granted him wisdom like no other. He also granted him riches and glory.

Then the Lord adds an ‘if’ condition. ‘If you will walk in my ways’ I will give you a long life. Solomon goes to Jerusalem, before the Ark to give sacrificial offerings to the Lord.

Solomon’s Wisdom is shown in his dealings with 2 women both claiming to be mothers of a child. When Solomon bluffs that he will divide the child in two with a sword to give both women half, the false mother accepts it while the real mother would never allow harm to come to her child. Solomon does not harm the child but wisely gives the child to his real mother.

Chapter 4

Officials of the King
Fulfillment of Promise to Abraham
12 Governors

The King’s lands were vast, needing various officials

Azariah, son of Zadok, the priest
Elihoreph and Ahijah, scribes
Jehoshaphat the chancellor
Benaiah, commander of the army
Zadok and Abiathar, priests
Azariah in charge of governors
Zabud, son of Nathan, priest & companion to the king
Ahishar, master of the palace
Adoniram, head of forced labor

In addition, there were 12 governors for the 12 districts of the land. Each district would take turns providing for the needs of the king each month.

Judah and Israel were as numerous as the sands of the sea.

This was one of the promises that the Lord made to Abraham in Genesis, now fulfilled.

Chapter 5

Israel’s Borders & Peace
Enormous supplies, chariots, and labor
Solomon’s wisdom spreads
Preparation for the Temple

Solomon’s borders were the broadest in the history of Israel. When the Jews of later times looked for a restoration of Israel, it was often in terms of the lands owned under David and Solomon, from the River Euphrates to the border of Egypt. There was peace all around their borders. They lived in security as long as Solomon lived.

The daily provisions for the king’s court were growing significantly but provided for by the governors. Solomon had a large army of chariots. These were some of the warning signs that Samuel gave about a king…

He will take your sons and appoint them to his chariots
He will appoint himself commanders of thousands
He will take your daughters for labor
He will take the best of your fields
He will tax a tenth of your food for his officers
He will take your best servants, men, and beast for his work.
He will take a tenth of your flocks
You will be his slaves
You will cry out because of your king, but the Lord will not listen.

Solomon’s wisdom and fame spread. He uttered many proverbs and wrote many songs. He was knowledgeable of plants, trees, beasts, birds, reptiles, and fish. People from all over came to hear his wisdom.

Despite the Lord not needing a house of stone, he accepted David’s request and allowed David to start saving materials for it. Solomon picked up those plans and continued the preparations. Hiram, kind of Tyre was a friend and provided the wood from the Cedars of Lebanon.

Because the Lord said he did not need a house of stone, and David’s son would build a house in his name, Solomon is a partial fulfillment.
Jesus would later be the ultimate fulfillment as the living Temple of God, son of David (in the line of David)

The cost of the wood for the Temple was high. The people of Israel would now have to provide for the provisions of King Hiram’s court in addition to King Solomon’s court. Solomon put 30,000 Israelites under forced labor to transport the wood.

30,000 forced labor for wood
70,000 carriers
80,000 stone cutters
3,300 overseers (answerable to Solomon)

Solomon was beginning to do what Samuel warned about;

He will take your best servants, men, and beast for his work.
He will appoint himself commanders of thousands
You will be his slaves

The foundation of the Temple was made of large finely hewed stone.

Chapter 6

Building the Temple

The date provided (the 480th year after the Exodus from Egypt) places the event about half between the Exodus in Moses’s time and the Return from Babylonian captivity. If we count back through the kings from the decree of Cyrus in 537 B.C., this gives an approximate dating of c. 960 B.C. for the construction of the Temple.

The Jews of Jesus’ day were attached to 1,000 years of tradition with the Temple of Jerusalem.

The building of the Temple is described as if you are taking a tour starting with the front. A cubit was based upon the length of an arm from elbow to the tip of the fingers. (roughly a foot and a half or 45-50 cm)

Although the Temple measurements can give us some idea of size and shape, there is much room for interpretation, explaining why various depictions will vary.

SOLOMON STARTS BUILDING THE TEMPLE

The Lord gives Solomon another ‘if’ condition. ‘if you walk in my ways and follow my statutes, ordinances, and commands’, the Lord would dwell in the midst of His people.

THE BUILDING OF THE TEMPLE INSIDE

THE BUILDING OF THE TEMPLE COURT

The Temple was built in 7 Years.

Chapter 7

Solomon’s Distractions
Objects for the Temple

Something seems a little off with Solomon. He took 7 years to build the Temple with splendor but spent 13 years on his own buildings…

House of Forest of Lebanon
Porch of Columns
Porch of the Throne
Solomon’s House
Porch for his wife, Pharoah’s daughter
Great Court

Work was continued on the Temple…

Bronze Columns
Solomon had Hiram (not Hiram the king) a bronze worker fashion two large columns (Jachin and Boaz) for the front of the Temple
Bronze Molten Sea
He made the molten sea of the priestly cleansing
Bronze Lavers
He made 10 stands and basins of bronze for the washing of animals.
Temple Utensils
He made all the pots, shovels, and bowls needed for the Temple ceremonies.
The Golden Altar
The Table of Showbread
The Lampstands

Chapter 8

Temple Completed
Temple Dedication

When the Temple was completed, the elders, heads of all the tribes, and all the people were assembled for the dedication. The Ark of the Covenant and the Tent was brought up to the Temple where they had a sacrificial celebration to the Lord.

The Ark was placed inside the innermost room, the holy of holies, in the center of the 2 large cherubim on each side. Inside the Ark were the 2 tablets of the 10 Commandments. The Lord came to dwell in the holy of holies like the cloud of smoke in the desert.

Solomon blessed the assembly and gave praise to the Lord for fulfilling his promise to choose David and dwell in their midst.

Solomon gives a wonderful prayer of praise and thanksgiving to the Lord. Verses 22-61. They celebrated with offerings to the Lord for seven days. On the 8th day, the people departed, rejoicing for all the blessings they had received.

In the midst of Solomon’s speech, he also prophetically speaks of future troubles ‘if’ the Israelites are not faithful.

If the heavens and cannot contain God, how can this house?
When the people sin and are defeated by their enemies
When the people are brought into Exile
When there is famine

Despite these potential sins, Solomon asks for the Lord to be there when the people repent and return to Him. This is also prophetic.

Chapter 9

Prayer and Warning
Other Building Projects

After Solomon completed everything he wanted to do, with the Temple and his own house completed, the Lord came to him a 2nd time, as in Gibeon when He gave Solomon wisdom.

The Lord accepts Solomon’s prayer and the Temple. He continues with more blessings and another ‘if’ condition. If Solomon will walk before Him as his father David, wholeheartedly and uprightly, the royal throne will continue.

Here the Lord appears harsh. If Solomon or any of his descendants turn away by failing to keep the commandments or they bow to false gods, God will repudiate the Temple, cut off Israel, and the Temple will fall in ruins. It is prophetic, but not a problem if Solomon and the people remain faithful.

Hiram, the king of Tyre and Solomon have a temporary disagreement over some cities Solomon gave Hiram in Galilee for payment for working on all the houses. Hiram was displeased with the trade.

Solomon had other building projects in which he used prisoners, who were not Israelites, as forced labor.

The wall of Jerusalem
Hazor (fortified city)
Megiddo (fortress overlooking the north plains)
Gezer (fortress overlooking western plains)
The Millo (fortress next to the Temple in Jerusalem)
A fleet in Ezion-Geber (southern port city)

Solomon offered sacrifices 3 times a year to the Lord at the Temple.

The Jews continued the practice of 3 major feasts each year at the Temple until 70 A.D.

Hiram, apparently still an ally with Solomon, sends expert sailors to help his fleet. They sailed to Ophir bringing back an enormous amount of Gold, 420 talents.

1 talent was approximately 70 lbs (32 kilograms)

Chapter 10

Queen of Sheba
Great Wealth, Power, and Fame

After hearing of Solomon’s fame, the Queen of Sheba came to Jerusalem to test Solomon with questions.

Solomon answered all her questions. When she witnessed his wisdom, his buildings, his court, and his offerings to the Lord, her breath was taken away. She gave the king 120 talents of gold, a large number of spices and precious stones, a gift of abundance to Solomon never surpassed. He gave her whatever she asked for in return.

Hiram’s fleet brought back a very precious almug wood that was never seen again. It was used for supports for the Temple, Solomon’s house, and for harps and Lyres.

The gold that Solomon received in one year was 666 talents. This 666 could be symbolic. The number 6 in Hebrew Scripture symbolized animals and non-completion. On the 6th-day man was created with the animals, but man was made for the 7th day, with a spiritual soul for heaven. Was the extraordinary wealth and power going to change Solomon into being like a beast tyrant or would he be more like a heavenly king?

The surrounding countries came to hear the wisdom of Solomon, but it was also as subjects, having to pay a yearly tribute. Solomon had 1,400 chariots and 12,000 horses.

Before, the focus was on the needs of Israel.
Now it was more about Solomon’s power and wealth.

Chapter 11

Solomon Corrupted
Warnings Prophesied
Adversaries to the Throne

The warnings from the Lord were foreshadowing the sins of Solomon. He loved many foreign women who were worshiping false gods. To make it worse, his heart turned to their false gods.

It was not a one-time sin. Solomon had 700 wives and 300 concubines who turned his heart. He was not entirely with the Lord as David was. He worshipped many false gods…

Astarte (goddess of Sidononians)
Milcome (abomination of the Ammonites)
Chemosh (abomination of Moab)
Molech (abomination of the Ammonites)
He did the same for all his foreign wives

Because Solomon chose this path of great sin to worship other gods, the Lords’ warnings to him would come to pass. The united kingdom under one king would be torn apart. However, for the sake of David, it would not occur until Solomon’s son became king, and it would not be the entire kingdom.

Solomon’s sins were catching up with him. Foreign powers now became adversaries

Hadad from Edom
Rezon of Damascus (Syria an Aram)
Jeroboam (a servant from the Israel tribe of Ephraim)
Rebelled against Solomon
Ahijah the prophet tells Jeroboam he will gain 10 tribes.
Judah will remain with David’s line (Benjamin also)
Jeroboam fled to Egpyt until after Solomon’s death

The Lord will humble David’s line for Solomon’s sins, but not forever.

Solomon died and was buried in the City of David. He ruled Israel for 40 years. What had briefly become a united kingdom under Solomon was now in danger of splitting.

Chapter 12

The Next King
Rehoboam (son of Solomon, from Judah)
Jeroboam (from north Israel) 22 years
The kingdom divides
False Worship in the North

All of Israel came to see Rehoboam as the next king. Because Solomon had been corrupted and done all the negative things that Moses and Samuel warned about a king, they asked Rehoboam to lighten the harsh servitude they were under.

Rehoboam consulted a group of elders who told him to lighten the harshness of the people. He also consulted young men, his friends, who told him to be even more firm with the people. He listened to his young friends.

The Kingdom Divides

The 10 tribes of Israel broke away from Rehoboam to follow Jeroboam instead. Judah remained faithful to Rehoboam while the 10 tribes of Israel made Jeroboam their king

From this point on, the 10 Tribes in the north are referred to as Israel while Judah is in the south.

Judah was going to go to civil war to try and force the unity of Israel to be restored, but the Lord stopped them for the split had already been prophesied because of the Corruption of Solomon and his son.

Jeroboam (Israel – North – Evil) 22 years
Jeroboam in the North was afraid Israel would be reconciled with Judah once they went back to Jerusalem for feast days, so he set up rivaling sites of worship in the north. Just as the Israelites had worshipped the golden calf after coming out of Egypt, Jeroboam after coming out of Egypt chose the golden calf for Israel to worship. This was a horrible act.

On the feast of Tabernacles Jeroboam set up a rival feast day in the north and the Israelites followed him into sin.

Here is a mnemonic to help remember the 2 names

Rehoboam – R (Rightful heir from the line of David)
Jeroboam – J (Jumping off a spiritual cliff by worshipping the golden calf)

For more on the Golden Calf incident see Exodus 32.

Chapter 13

Prophesy against the Abomination
A Prophet Abandons the Lord’s Command
Jeroboam’s line To Be Cut Off

The Lord responded immediately to the abomination that Jeroboam committed by worshipping to the golden calf god of Egpyt. It was prophesied that Josiah from Judah will come to destroy the false altar and the false priesthood. Jeroboam tried to stop the prophet but his hand was withered. and then restored, to confirm the prophet was from the Lord. Jeroboam tried to tempt the prophet with a present, but the prophet denied him.

A 2nd prophet from the north caught up to the 1st prophet from the south and tried to tempt him with food. He lied to the 1st prophet from Judah telling him an angel had talked to him and said it was alright to eat at his house. When the 1st prophet of Judah followed the 2nd prophet, he abandoned the Lord’s commands.

The 1st prophet was killed by a lion along the way back home for his rebellion. This punishment was not so much about eating food at someone’s house, but more about abandoning the Lord so quickly. The Israelites in the north had abandoned the Lord for false idols and Judah was not far behind if they were not careful.

Even though the 2nd prophet from the north lied to test the 1st prophet, he was not all bad. When he heard the 1st prophet from Judah was killed by a lion, he retrieved his body, mourned for him, and placed him in his grave. He prophesied that the prophet from Judah was right, that the altar at Bethel and the high places of worship in Samaria would be destroyed.

Jeroboam, the King of Israel did not listen but did more evil be assigning priests for false worship. Anyone who desired it could be installed as a priest.

This was the opposite of priests under God who could only be so with appointment and proof of their ancestry. The old Israel, under God, protected the priesthood from corruption. The new Israel under Jeroboam didn’t care.

For this sin, Jeroboam’s line would be cut off and destroyed from the face of the earth.

Chapter 14

Prophesy against Jeroboam’s Line
Rehoboam (Judah – South)
Judah’s sins
End of Rehoboam’s Reign

There were still Levite Prophets from Solomon’s time living in the corrupted north. When Jeroboam’s son grows sick, he secretly sends his wife to Ahijah the prophet at Shiloh.

Ahijah was the prophet who was sent to Jeroboam to give him the news of gaining 10 tribes of Israel.

Ahijah gives Jeroboam’s wife the news that Jeroboam’s line will be cut off for the evil he had done. Jeroboam was not like David in trying to follow the Lord but had betrayed the Lord by following false gods. He had done more evil than anyone before him casting the Lord behind.

Jeroboam’s son died. Another king in Israel would rise to wipe out the rest of the line of Jeroboam.

This is the first hint of longer-term consequence for Israel, that they will be taken from this good land and scattered in a foreign land. ‘Beyond the river’, was often a reference to the Euphrates River.

Jeroboam’s reign lasted 22 years. Another son, Nadab was his successor.

Rehoboam (Judah – South – Bad)
The events in the book of 1st Kings will swing back and forth between Israel in the north and Judah in the south. It now switches to Judah in the south.

Judah followed Israel’s evil example and started worshipping the same false gods almost everywhere they could find in the high places and even under trees. Pagan priests and abominations were rampant in Judah.

Divided and weakened by sin, Egypt attacked and conquered Jerusalem, taking the treasures of Solomon’s Temple and houses. The gold shields that were taken were replaced with bronze shields.

Nothing good is recorded of Rehoboam’s reign. His son Abijam was made his successor. Israel and Judah were now in a continual state of war.

It is easy at this point to lose track of God’s plan for Salvation that he promised and continued all the way back from Gen 3:15. The key to remember is that the Lord’s promise continues through sinners. Some are worse than others, as we are seeing here, but all are sinners. Despite Solomon’s sins and Rehoboam’s sins, the Lord said He would continue the line for the sake of David. There is some hope, although difficult to see.

Chapter 15

King Abijam (Judah – Bad) 3 years
King Asa (Judah – Good) 41 years
King Nadab (Israel – North – Evil) 2 years
King Baasha (Israel – North – Evil) 24 years

The writer is providing the historical length of each king’s reign as well as additional information that may be important or interesting. At times, he will skim through a few kings within one chapter. At other times, he will stop on a major person for several chapters to go deeper into their story so the reader can better understand the situation. Here we have a few short kings showing the state of Judah and Israel shortly after the split between Rehoboam (Judah) and Jeroboam (Israel).

Abijam (Judah – South – Bad) 3 years
Abijam only reigned 3 years in Judah. His heart was not entirely with the Lord like David. He followed all the sins of his father Rehoboam, but the line of the kingdom would be continued for the sake of David.

The wars continued between Judah and Israel

His son Asa succeeded him.

Asa (Judah – South – Good) 41 years
Asa reigned 41 years. He did what was right in the sight of the Lord! He banished the Pagan priests, removed the idols of his ancestors, and even removed his grandmother from the position of queen mother for making a false idol of Asherah. He was with the Lord as long as he lived except that he did not take the extra step of removing all the high places (that people were using for false worship).

War continued between the north and the south.

Baasha (king of Israel) attacked Judah and fortified Ramah which was just north of Jerusalem.

Asa sent all the remaining treasuries of the house of the Lord to Ben-hadad (king of Aram northeast of Israel) in order to fortify their treaty and to attack Israel. Ben-hadad agreed and attacked cities in the north part of Israel between Chinnereth (Sea of Galilee area) and Damascus.

This is a significant event. Drawing Damascus and Syrian influences into battles would gradually weaken the north.

Baasha retreated from Judah. When he did, Asa took all the stones and beams from Ramah and built up nearby Geba for his own fortification.

Asa continued with other acts of valor recorded elsewhere. He had an infirmity of his feet in his old age. Why is this fact added? Perhaps for the symbolic spiritual aches of Judah, or that he had a long reign, or to remind us these are real people; not just names in a historical account.

Jehoshaphat succeeded him as king of Judah.

The narrative now switches back to the north and has a few years of catching up to do reach Baasha.

Nadab (Israel – North – Evil) 2 years
He only reigned 2 years in Israel. He did what was evil.

Baasha, son of Ahijah (of Issachar) killed Nadam in the midst of a battle in the land of the Philistines. Baasha then killed the rest of Jeroboam’s family as prophesied by Ahijah (the Shilonite).

The warring between Judah and Israel continued.

Baasha (Israel – North – Evil) 24 years
Baasha was king for 24 years. He was not better than Jeroboam, committing the same evil sins.

Chapter 16

Prophesy Against Baasha
King Elah (Israel – North – Evil) 2 years
King Zimri (Israel – North – Evil) 7 days
King Omri (Israel – North – Evil) 12 years
King Ahab (Israel – North – Evil) 22 years

In this chapter, the writer quickly goes through some of the Israel kings. One thing to notice is that while each evil king is overthrown in Israel, his replacement is as bad, sometimes worse. These quick summaries of kings will end once we reach king Ahab near the end of the chapter.

As a result of Baasha’s evil, Jehu the prophet was chosen to tell him that his line would be wiped out just as Jeroboam’s had been, for their abominations against the Lord.

We see a repeat prophesy of those dying in the city getting eaten by dogs. Remember it for later.

Elah (Israel – North – Evil) 2 years
Baasha’s son Elah reigned next. He reigned for 2 years. As was prophesied, a commander named Zimri rose and killed Elah while he was drunk. Zimri killed the whole house of Elah son of Baasha.

Zimri (Israel – North – Evil) 7 Days
Zimri reigned as king of Israel for 7 days but was already walking in the evil ways of Jeroboam committing sin. The rest of Israel, after hearing of his conspiracy, chose another commander, Omri as their king. Zimri was killed in the subsequent battle at Tirzah.

By this time, Israel was choosing their own kings, totally apart from the Lord. They had totally lost track of the succession that was carefully followed before and protected by their ancestors. The result was a chaotic disaster with no sense of what was true.

Israel Civil War
In addition to the ongoing war with Judah, Israel itself temporarily split into two; half followed the newly elected Omri and half followed Tibni, son of Ginath. Tibni was defeated by Omri.

Omri (Israel – North – Evil) 12 years
Omri builds the city of Samaria and follows in the evil ways of Jeroboam.

This is an important event as Samaria becomes the center of Israel, a symbol of false worship and despised by Jews down to Jesus’s day. Jesus’ parable of the good Samaritan was a challenge not to judge people by where they came from and to forgive past sins.

When Omri dies, his son Ahab was the next king. Ahab is important. The narrative will stay on Ahab for a while as he will be having interactions with the prophet Elijah.

Ahab (Israel – North – Evil) 22 years
It was not enough for Ahab to follow the sins of Jeroboam. He did worse. He married Jezebel from Sidon and began to worship her false gods of Baal. He was worse than any of his predecessors. He set up an altar and a house for Baal worship in Samaria and made an idol to Asherah, one of the Baal gods. He provoked the Lord.

The Baal gods were as serious of a problem to the Israelites in Canaan as the golden calf was to the generation who left Egypt.

There is an interesting prophecy fulfilled at this time. After Jericho fell to Israelites in Joshua’s time, Joshua warned that anyone who tried to rebuild it would suffer the loss of 2 sons (Joshua 6:26). Heil of Bethel rebuilds Jericho under Ahab’s reign, losing 2 sons, fulfilling the prophecy. The significance of Jericho here is that Jezebel and Ahab are bringing back Baal worship. Restoring Jericho would be a strong statement to the land that Baal worship was back, against the Lord.

Chapter 17

Elijah sent by the Lord
Famine
Multiplication of food
Raising the dead

In the midst of the abominations by Queen Jezebel and King Ahab of Israel in the north, the Lord sends the prophet Elijah. Elijah prophesies a famine that occurs. For a while, he lived a day at a time cared for by the Lord with birds, east of the Jordan (outside the jurisdiction and reach of King Ahab). When the famine reached Elijah he was sent to Sidon, the heart of Baal worship.

There he performed a miracle to save a widow and her son from starvation by the multiplication of flour and oil. She shows faith by sharing with him the last that she had.

When the widow’s son died, Elijah brought him back to life. The widow believed that Elijah was a man of God, speaking true words from the Lord.

Elijah shows people the power of God right in the middle of the heart of Baal country as an adversary to King Ahab and Queen Jezebel, setting up a battle of Good vs. Evil.

Some of Jesus’ miracles point back to Elijah but are larger (multiplication of loaves to feed thousands; Resurrection of the dead for many)

Chapter 18

Elijah sent to King Ahab
A Challenge of Prophets
The Drought Ends

King Ahab had provoked the Lord with false worship of the Baal gods. Queen Jezebel had provoked the Lord by slaughtering all the prophets of the Lord (except for the 100 that Obadiah had hidden away secretly).

Apparently Ahab had been doing an extensive search for Elijah, but could not find him while the Lord was directing Elijah where to go.

The Lord sends Elijah to find Ahab so Elijah can pronounce the end of the drought. Elijah appears to Obadiah first. Obadiah was afraid because they had been searching for Elijah and he didn’t want to draw attention to himself. After hearing Elijah prophesy his safety, Obadiah goes to Ahab to arrange a meeting between the two.

Ahab was already aware of Elijah’s faith and deeds as his adversary. Elijah told Ahab to bring the people and prophets of Israel to Mt Carmel. There Elijah challenged them saying if the Lord is God, then follow him, if Baal then follow him. Ahab brought 450 prophets against Elijah.

To show the people they were false prophets, Elijah challenged them to sacrifice 2 bulls and see who could burn up the sacrifice by calling on their god to start the fire. Elijah mocked the false prophets as they called upon Baal from morning to noon and nothing happened. He mocked them to call louder as their god may be asleep. There was no answer from Baal.

Then Elijah built an altar to the Lord from 12 stones and called upon the Lord. The Lord sent down fire to consume the offering. Seeing this the people fell prostrate to worship the Lord God. The false prophets were killed.

Then Elijah pronounced the famine would end and there would be rain. He went to the top of Mt. Carmel with a servant. He sent his servant to look seven times. On the seventh time, the servant spotted a small cloud in the distance. Elijah then told his servant to tell Ahab to leave the mountain before the rain came to stop him. Elijah was faster and outran Ahab.

The famine ended as Elijah had said. The Lord was showing the people that Baal worship was empty and false.

Chapter 19

Elijah flees to Escape Jezebel’s Wrath
Elijah finds God in the Silence
Elijah appoints Elisha

Upon hearing the news from King Ahab, Queen Jezebel was furious and swore an oath to kill Elijah. Elijah (uncharacteristically) flees in fear to the far south of Judah where her men cannot reach him.

When Elijah flees, he is having a crisis of faith. He was taken care of by the Lord by birds, had performed miracles in a foreign land, and had defeated the King’s prophets, yet he was still human and this time of fear and doubt.

If you have fear and doubt, try reflecting on Elijah

Elijah wanted to die, but the Lord sent a messenger to tell him to eat and drink. After doing so he laid back down, but the angel came a second time and urged him to eat and drink again for the journey ahead.

Elijah traveled 40 days to Mt. Horeb where he found a cave for shelter. There he complained to the Lord about his situation. The Lord told him to stand by the mountain where he would pass. There was a strong wind crushing rocks, an earthquake, and a fire, but the Lord was not in those. After these, there was a light silent sound. Elijah hid his face in his cloak and went to the entrance of the cave where the Lord asked him why he was there.

He complained to the Lord again that they were out to kill him. The Lord responded by telling him to go back, north, all the way through the land of Israel, to Damascus. There he would anoint a foreign king, Hazael king of Aram, then Jehu, son of Nimshi as king of Israel, and then Elisha as a prophet to succeed him.

The Lord would spare any who did not worship Baal.

Elisha
Elijah comes upon Elisha plowing a field. Elijah puts his cloak around him to signify anointing his successor. Elisha kills his oxen and uses the plow for the fire to cook them and give to everyone. Elisha burned up his livelihood to follow the Lord.

The comment Elisha makes to Elijah gets lost in some translations as Elisha clearly gave up what he had to follow the Lord.

The people that Jesus later addresses with similar language were making excuses to delay or to not follow him.

Elijah and Moses, who encountered God on mountains, later talk with Jesus at the Transfiguration on another mountain.

Chapter 20

A battle between Aram and Israel
Ahab ignores The Ban

King Ben-hadad of Aram set out to besiege Samaria. He and King Ahab had several written exchanges that were disagreeable leading to battle. After the events on Mt. Carmel and Elijah’s call to end the drought, God was still showing Ahab what the Lord does for someone on His side. This time he directs Ahab when to attack to defeat the king of Aram.

A prophet comes to Ahab and warned him that Aram will come back to attack again at a certain time of year. The Aramites come again, this time looking to fight on level ground. Because Aram said the Lord was only a god of the mountains, the Lord gave Israel the victory again.

On the brink of utter defeat. King Ben-hadad’s last men surrendered in humble sackcloth and surprisingly King Ahab ignored the Lord and welcomed Ben-hadad like a brother. Ben-hadad agreed to restore the previous cities they had taken from Israel and re-establish trade relations in Damascus.

When a prophet approaches Ahab with a situation of a servant letting a prisoner carelessly go free, Ahab convicts him. The story is really about Ahab being careless with Ball worshippers while treating God worshippers with disdain. Ahab ends up convicting himself.

Because Ahab was careless in ignoring the ban of the Baal worshippers (as he also was in rebuilding Jericho) the Lord holds him and Israel accountable person by person for Aram.

Ahab shows no remorse or hint of turning to the Lord. He goes away disturbed and angry back to Samaria.

Chapter 21

Coveting Naboth’s Land
Elijah is Back

King Ahab showed compassion to an enemy but showed no compassion to his neighbor. Ahab wanted Naboth’s vineyard but it was Naboth’s ancestral heritage. When Queen Jezebel found out she sent two false witnesses to accuse Naboth of crimes punishable by stoning. They did so and Naboth was stoned to death. Ahab went to take possession of his vineyard.

Elijah
Elijah is back. After his meeting with the Lord, his fortitude is restored and he is sent back to Israel to directly face his adversaries; to go face to face with Ahab and Jezebel (who threatened his life).

Elijah met Ahab on the way to possess Naboth’s land and stopped him, pronounced the Lord’s judgment. Where Naboth’s blood was spilled, there the dogs will lick up Ahab’s blood. Ahab’s line will be cut off from Israel. Jezebel will be eaten by dogs in Jezreel.

Elijah recalls the earlier prophecies of anyone dying in the city, dogs will devour.

Upon hearing this, Ahab finally reacts by tearing his garments, putting on sackcloth, and fasting in a sign of humility to the Lord’s prophet. Because he showed humility to the Lord, the punishment was delayed.

Chapter 22

Jehoshaphat (Judah – South – Good) 25 years
Ahab asks Jehoshaphat to go to battle with him
Other Prophets
Ahab’s treachery and Death

King Jehoshaphat (Judah – South – Good) 25 years
Three years later King Jehoshaphat of Judah came to King Ahab who asked him to fight together as one nation again against King Aram.

Jehoshaphat’s answer was to seek the word of the Lord at once. Ahab called 400 of his prophets who gave him the answer he wanted. Jehoshaphat askes for 1 more. Ahab does not like the prophet Micaiah but calls him upon Jehoshaphat’s wish. Before Micaiah gives his prophecy, a messenger from Ahab tries to convince him to say good things. He ignores the messenger.

Micaiah says he will say what the Lord tells him. He tells King Ahab to attack. At first, this seems like he siding with the other prophets but he goes on to prophesy the attack will end up as a defeat for Israel, scattered on the mountains with no shepherd.

Because Ahab relies upon false prophets the Lord is daring him to follow them, even telling him the clear consequence in advance. Will Ahab listen to the Lord’s warning? No, he throws Micaiah in prison and follows his own will.

It may seem like a surprise that Jehoshaphat is proceeding to battle with Ahab, but he is trusting in the Lord, through Micaiah, to proceed. Micaiah did not say Judah would be scattered.

At Ramoth-Gilead they went to battle. The King of Aram told his army to only fight the King of Israel. Ahab tried to trick Jehoshaphat by disguising himself so the Aramites would attach Jehoshaphat. Both his plot was quickly figured out.

Instead, Ahab was mortally wounded by a random arrow between his armor. He died that evening with blood in his chariot. When his chariot was washed out in Samaria, the dogs licked up his blood, fulfilling the earlier prophecy.

King Jehoshaphat (Judah – South – Good) 25 years
Switching back to Judah in the south, Jehoshaphat was a good king like his father Asa, doing what was right in the sight of the Lord.

While he did not remove the high places and some people still worshipped false gods there, he removed the pagan priests.

Since there was no king in Edom in the south to oppose Jehoshaphat, he sent ships to look for gold in Ophir as was done in Solomon’s time but the ships wrecked at Ezion-Geber. It was symbolic of how far the kingdom had fallen from its height.

When Jehoshaphat died, his son Jehoram reigned in Judah.

Ahaziah (Israel – North – Evil) 2 years
Ahaziah son of Ahab became king of Israel. He did evil like his father Ahab, his mother Jezebel, and Jeroboam, bringing Israel to sin. He worshipped Baal provoking the Lord as his father Ahab had done.

Summary

At the beginning of the 1st book of Kings, the kingdom of David was barely holding onto unity as Adonijah threatened to claim the kingdom. After David made Solomon king, Solomon quickly consolidated his strength and unified the nation. He was granted wisdom by the Lord to govern the people and his fame spread. Israel’s borders were secured all around.

However, despite his wisdom, Solomon gave in to his wives and started to follow them into false idol worship. With great wealth, great fame, great power, and 1000 wives and concubines, Solomon fell into corruption. The prophet Samuel tried to warn the people about a king and now the problems were happening.

When Solomon’s son Rehoboam decided to be even stricter, 10 tribes in Israel rebelled to start their own kingdom under Jeroboam. It was a disaster and the kingdom divided. (Judah in the south, Israel in the north)

Israel quickly fell into false worship. All of her kings were evil. Some of the kings in Judah were not good and some were. The Lord sent prophets to Israel to warn the kings to change their ways or else there would be consequences. They didn’t listen.

Judah and Israel went to war. Later the Aramites (Syrians) were drawn into the battles weakening the Israelites.

Elijah is sent to take on the evil of King Ahab and Jezebel. It took time and overcoming temporary fear, but he prevailed in delivering what the Lord asked. Ahab is defeated. Elijah chooses Elisha to succeed him.

The book closes with the kings of Judah and Israel separate kingdoms, still divided. The kings in the north were all evil while the kings of Judah had some good and some bad.

What will happen to Elija and Elisha? What will happen to Jezebel? Will the kingdom ever be re-united or will it disintegrate? That is continued in the 2nd Book of Kings.

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