I am not a theologian, and this is not meant to be a Commentary or a paraphrase, but I do recognize the overwhelming responsibility in preaching and teaching The Word of God. You may not agree with everything I say and therefore, I would urge you to study God’s Word for yourself and ask Him to show you the truth. Before we start, it is important that you read and study this alongside the Bible narrative. I have used the New King James Version of the Bible. Please pray that God will help you to understand it. Make your own notes if that helps you. I simply love to read God’s Word and, like me, you will find that it is so relevant to living in the twenty first century.
One thing has come home to me that the more I read the Bible is how it all fits together. There may be up to forty different writers/speakers but there is only ONE AUTHOR, God Himself.
We understand that the books of 1 and 2 Kings were originally one book. The Septuagint separated them into two parts. We derive our English title “Kings” from Jerome’s Vulgate, the Latin translation of the Bible.
We don’t know who the human author of this book was; Jewish traditions say it was Jeremiah, and it may very well be so. Some commentators have suggested Ezra, Ezekiel, and Jeremiah as possible authors. Certain clues such as literary styles, themes woven throughout the book, and the nature of material used point to a single compiler or author rather than multiple compilers or authors. This person assembled the manuscript while God’s people were in exile at Babylon (see 2 Kings). But he didn’t complete the work until the Babylonians released King Jehoiachin after thirty-seven years in prison (560 BC), most likely completing it within another twenty years.
The narrative covers almost five hundred years. It is the story of the rise and fall of kingdoms, of high promise and abject failure, of tragedy and yet of hope. It concludes a history of ancient Israel also including the books of Joshua, Judges and Samuel. It covers from the death of King David to the release of Jehoiachin from imprisonment in Babylon—a period of some 400 years (c. 960 – c. 560 BC). Scholars tend to treat the books as consisting of a first edition from the late 7th century BC and of a second and final edition from the mid-6th century BC.
The Book of 1 Kings was likely written between 560 and 540 B.C. and is the sequel to 1 and 2 Samuel and begins by tracing Solomon’s rise to kingship after the death of David. The story begins with a united kingdom, but ends in a nation divided into 2 kingdoms, known as Judah and Israel.
The book of 1 Kings starts with Solomon and ends around the time of Elijah. The difference between the two gives you an idea as to what lies between. Solomon was born after the scandal of adultery between David and Bathsheba, and the subsequent murder of Uriah, Bathsheba’s husband. Like his father, Solomon had a weakness for women that would bring him down. Solomon did well at first, praying for wisdom and building a temple to God that took seven years to construct. But then he spent thirteen years building a palace for himself. His accumulation of many wives led him to worship their idols and to turn away from God. After Solomon’s death, Israel was ruled by a series of kings, most of whom were evil and idolatrous. The nation fell further away from God, and even the preaching of Elijah could not bring them back. Among the most evil kings were Ahab and his queen, Jezebel, who brought the worship of Baal to Israel. Elijah tried to turn the Israelites back to the worship of God, challenging the idolatrous priests of Baal to a showdown with God on Mount Carmel. Of course, God won. This made Queen Jezebel angry, she ordered Elijah’s death, so he ran away and hid in the wilderness. Depressed and exhausted, he asked God to let him die, but God sent food and encouragement to the prophet and spoke to him in a “quiet whisper” and in the process saved his life for further work
As with all Scripture, there are many lessons for believers. We see a warning about the company we keep, and especially regarding close associations and marriage. The kings of Israel who, like Solomon, married foreign women exposed themselves and the people they ruled to evil. As believers in Christ, we must be very careful about whom we choose as friends, business associates, and spouses.
Elijah’s experience in the wilderness also teaches a valuable lesson. After his incredible victory over the 450 prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel, his joy turned to sorrow when he was pursued by Jezebel and fled for his life. Such “mountaintop” experiences are often followed by a letdown and the depression and discouragement that can follow. We have to be on guard for this type of experience in the Christian life. But our God is faithful and will never leave or forsake us.
1 Kings begins with the closing days of King David (around 971 BC) and the conspiracies surrounding his succession. When David died (1 Kings 2:10), Solomon ascended the throne and established himself as a strong and wise leader. In the early years of Solomon’s reign, Israel experienced its “glory days.” Its influence, economy, and military power enjoyed little opposition; its neighbours posed no strong military threat.
Shortly after Solomon’s death in 931 BC (1 Kings 11:43), the kingdom was divided into northern (Israel) and southern (Judah) entities. First Kings follows the history of this divided kingdom through the year 853 BC. The kings who reigned under God’s authority—who remained faithful to the Law—experienced God’s blessings. But those kings who deviated from the Law experienced curses.
In addition to the kings, the prophets feature heavily in this book. They are God’s spokesmen, proclaiming His word to mostly hard-hearted rulers. It is through the prophets’ eyes—always connecting the nation’s fortune with its kings’ faithfulness (or lack thereof)—that we learn the history of Israel and Judah.
Solomon was known as the wisest man of his day. He was arguably the wealthiest man of his time. He enjoyed God’s favor in many ways, yet his legacy is tarnished by the faithlessness he displayed in his later years. In direct contradiction to God’s command for a king not to “multiply wives” (Deuteronomy 17:17), Solomon married many foreign women. First Kings laments, “When Solomon was old, his wives turned his heart away after other gods” (11:4). Solomon began to rely on his fortune, his military might, and his political alliances instead of the God who gave all of those blessings to him. He focused on the gifts, forgetting the Giver.
How often do we do the same? Are there any direct commands from God we are ignoring? Today, take time to recall the blessings in your life, and then thank the Lord for them. Rely on Him, not your possessions or position, as your source of strength and significance.
