THE BOOK OF FIRST KINGS

INTRODUCTION:

1.The two Books of SAMUEL trace the origin of the Monarchy in Israel, and show establishment of the ruling family of David.

2.The Poetical Books probably are, for the most part, from the literary time of David.

3.The Book of FIRST CHRONICLES looks back much later (after the Jews returned from Exile), and gives an Editorial on David from God’s point of view.

4.The two Books of KINGS take up the history of the kingdom from David’s last days; And follow it to its collapse at the time of the Babylonian Captivity -- They Begin with the temple built; And End with the temple burned.

5.FIRST KINGS has been called “The Book Of The Disruption”. It records the division of the United Kingdom into two kingdoms. The first eleven Chapters cover the United Kingdom; The last eleven Chapters cover the Two Lines of Kings.

6.TITLE: The subject matter is the KINGS of Israel and Judah.

7.AUTHOR: Unknown -- Jewish tradition says Jeremiah.

8.DATE: 971-851 BC which covers the 120 years from the beginning of Solomon’s reign to the beginning of Ahaziah’s reign; It takes up where SECOND SAMUEL and FIRST CHRONICLES leave off.

9.THEME: “Discontinuance Through Disobedience.” The Book shows the spiritual and moral causes that led to the fall of both The Northern and Southern Kingdoms.

a.The material is too selective to be a biography of the kings.

b.So it is clear that the purpose was not primarily to write a history of the period.

c.Rather, the purpose seems to be to show that God blesses those who are obedient and punishes those who are disobedient.

d.The welfare of the kingdoms was conditioned on the faithfulness of the kings and the people.

1.THE UNITED KINGDOM UNDER SOLOMON -- CHAPTERS 1-11: EXPANSION AND GLORY.

A.SOLOMON’S RISE TO POWER -- CHAPTERS 1-4:

1.Chapter 1, David; Adonijah; Solomon.

a.David was old and sick; Abishag ministered to him, Verses 1-4.

b.Adonijah rebelled against David, and then plotted to seize the Kingdom,
Verses 5-10.

c.Bathsheba and Nathan urged David to keep his word about Solomon’s reign, thus saving Solomon’s throne, Verses 11-27.

d.David ordered the coronation of Solomon, Verses 28-37.

e.Solomon was publicly anointed to be King, Verses 38-40.

f.These Verses speak of the desperation of Adonijah and his followers,
Verses 41-50.

g.Here we read of Solomon’s actions; Solomon asked of Adonijah only that he be a loyal and faithful subject; Adonijah submitted, Verses 51-53.

2.Chapter 2, Death Of David; Traitors Executed.

a.David’s charge to Solomon, Verses 1-9 (Orders to kill the wicked did not reflect David’s personal vengeance, but rather it reflected his public duty as King to carry out God’s justice - Num 35:31-33; Deu 19:13).

b.The Death and burial of David, Verses 10-11.

c.Solomon took the throne of his father, Verse 12.

d.Adonijah attempted to take Abishag, and the throne; He was put to death for his treachery, Verses 13-25.

e.Priest Abiathar was removed because of his association with Adonijah; His removal in this instance was a fulfillment of prophecy, Verses 26-27.

f.Joab fled to the Tabernacle; He was killed, Verses 28-34.

g.Shimei was not allowed to leave Jerusalem; He disobeyed and was slain,
Verses 36-46a.

h.Solomon kept his oath to David about the two men; He was firmly established on his throne as a youth (perhaps fifteen to twenty years of age), Verse 46b.

3.Chapter 3, Solomon’s Wisdom.

a.First, he unwisely made an alliance with Pharaoh; The marriage of Solomon and Pharaoh’s daughter, Verse 1.

b.Then he unwisely engaged in idolatry, Verses 2-4.

c.Now, Solomon’s wise prayer, Verses 5-15; cf 4:29-30.

1)His wisdom was already great in asking for MORE WISDOM.

2)His wisdom was practical (It dealt with directing the affairs of a nation); His future life showed he lacked spiritual wisdom (insight into Divine things which comes by and through a close fellowship with God).

3)His wisdom was tested by two harlots with one child between them,
Verses 16-28.

4.Chapter 4, Solomon’s Power, Wealth, And Wisdom.

a.Solomon’s princes and officers, Verses 1-19.

b.Solomon’s prosperity and business enterprises, Verses 20-28.

c.His literary attainments (3,000 proverbs, 1,005 songs, numerous scientific works); His great wisdom, Verses 29-34.

B.SOLOMON’S TEMPLE BUILT AND DEDICATED -- CHAPTERS 5-8:

1.Chapter 5, Preparation For Building The Temple.

a.Solomon made an agreement with Hiram, King of Tyre, to get wood and skilled workmen from Lebanon (Lebanon cedar was hard and close-grained, of the highest quality), Verses 1-12.

b.This is a discussion of thousands of Solomon’s workers and their duties, Verses 13-16.

c.Foundation stones (some of which still remain) were as much as 24 feet long, 8 feet wide, and 4 feet thick, Verses 17-18. Heavy rocks! We wonder how workmen moved them.

2.Chapter 6, Work Was Begun On The Temple.

a.These Verses provide us with the dimensions, materials, and a description of the Temple, Verses 1-36.

b.The Temple was seven years in building, Verses 37-38.

3.Chapter 7, Solomon’s House, And The Temple.

a.Solomon took thirteen years in building his own house, Verses 1-39 (This does not necessarily show selfishness -- but it does indicate no prior preparation; He likely employed fewer workmen on his own house; Also, notice that he waited until God’s House was finished before he began the Palace Buildings).

b.Beautiful and valuable vessels made for the Temple, Verses 40-51.

4.Chapter 8, Solomon Dedicated The Temple.

a.The ark was brought into the Temple; The Glory of God filled the Temple, Verses 1-21.

b.Solomon’s great Prayer Of Dedication, Verses 22-53.

c.Solomon then, in great words, pledged the Nation to be faithful to God,
Verses 54-66.

C.SOLOMON’S FAME, FORTUNE, AND FAILURE -- CHAPTERS 9-11:

1.Chapter 9, Jehovah Appeared To Solomon.

a.God appeared to Solomon to make a covenant about the Nation’s future, and warned Solomon to keep the commandments, Verses 1-9.

1)Completion of the temple and palace marked off the first twenty years of Solomon’s reign - Verse 10.

2)The splendor of his kingdom reached its peak, Chapters 9-10.

b.Solomon’s fame, wealth, power greatly increased, 9:10-28.

2.Chapter 10, The Queen Of Sheba.

a.The Queen of Sheba visited Solomon; Her report was: “Behold, the half was not told me,” Verses 1-13.

b.These Verses record Solomon’s income, his splendor, and his navy -- He had astonishing wealth, Verses 14-26.

c.His glory soon began to degenerate after he became so extravagant and sinful, Verses 27-29.

3.Chapter 11, Solomon’s Apostasy.

a.He married pagans and compromised with idolatry, Verses 1-10.

1)Moses had said future kings should not multiply their wealth, horses, or wives - Deu 17:14-20 (16-17); Solomon was guilty on all three counts.

2)Not only did he take his wives from among the pagan women - Verses 1-2, but he also then provided ffor their false worship; This opened the door for the King (and later for all Israel) to fall into idolatry.

3)Thus the wisest of men became the greatest of fools.

b.God foretold the divided kingdom, with Solomon’s son reigning over a small fraction of the original (the one Tribe of Judah was retained for David’s sake), Verses 11-13.

c.Foreign enemies began to appear, Verses 14-25.

d.These Verses tell of the rise of Jeroboam of the Tribe of Ephraim, Verses 26-40, Note Verse 31.

e.Solomon died after reigning 40 years; Rehoboam his son reigned in his stead, Verses 41-43.

f.Idolatry brought the sunset on Israel’s Golden Age.

2.THE DIVIDED KINGDOM UNDER MANY KINGS -- CHAPTERS 12-22: DIVISION AND DECLINE.

(This Is The First Eighty Years Of The Two Kingdoms.)

NOTE THIS INTRODUCTORY INFORMATION:

1)When Solomon died (931 BC), the Nation divided into the Northern Kingdom of ten tribes (called Israel, or Ephraim), and the Southern Kingdom of two tribes (called Judah).

2)From this point the current of Hebrew history parts into two streams, and the story in its details becomes more complex.

3)This began a chaotic period with two Nations and two sets of kings; This BOOK tells the stories of two Nations at the same time, and the writer jumps back and forth between the kings of Israel and the kings of Judah; This MUST be understood if the BOOK is to be understood.

4)The difficulty for us is in keeping so many characters sorted out in our minds.

5)One thing that helps is that the BOOK stays in the same historical periods when making the transitions back and forth.

6)The reign of each king is measured according to the spiritual power of his reign (not its political power).

a)An introduction is given in each case, and the beginning of the king’s reign is related to the year of the reign of the king of the other Kingdom.

b)Then the specific events of the king’s reign are stated.

c)A verdict is then passed on the king’s reign, with the life and the reign of David being the standard by which the kings of Judah were judged (Israel had not one single king who was good; they were ALL bad).

7)Of all the kings discussed in this BOOK, ONLY TWO WERE GOOD (Asa and Jehoshaphat, Kings of Judah) -- The rest of them, in varying degrees, were wicked idolaters and murderers.

8)From the beginning there was continual enmity and strife between the two Kingdoms.

A.THE TRAGEDY OF A NATION TORN IN TWO -- CHAPTERS 12-16:

1.Chapter 12, The Kingdom Divided.

a.Rehoboam began his reign with unkindness and oppression, which brought revolt, Verses 1-19.

1)Led by Jereboam, the people had a reasonable request of Rehoboam, Verse 4.

2)Rehoboam’s response was a stupid one, Verses 5-15.

b.This is the fulfillment of 11:11,26,31 as Jeroboam and his followers renounced allegiance to the House of David, and the Ten Northern Tribes formed the Kingdom of Israel, Verses 20-25.

c.Jeroboam set up golden calves and idolatrous calf worship at Bethel and Dan, Verses 26-33, Note Verse 28.

d.Thus the Kingdom of Israel had a sorry beginning, and then it went from bad to worse.

2.Chapter 13, The Prophet Who Believed A Lie.

a.Jeroboam at the altar in Bethel; The prophet from Judah cried against the altar, Verses 1-3.

b.Jeroboam tried to put his hand against the prophet; His hand withered; The prophet’s reverence for God, Verses 4-10.

c.The prophet started home; An old prophet lied to him in order to get him to go home with him, Verses 11-18.

d.Contrary to instructions he went with the old prophet, and was killed by a lion on the way home, Verses 19-34.

3.Chapter 14, Both Kingdoms In Idolatry.

a.Jeroboam’s son was sick; Ahijah prophesied the end of Israel, even though it had just begun, Verses 1-14,15-16.

b.Jeroboam died; After his death, his son Nadab reigned over Israel,
Verses 17-20.

c.Rehoboam reigned over Judah; Like Israel, that Nation also sinned by engaging in idolatry, Verses 21-29.

d.Warfare between Israel and Judah was continual, Verse 30.

e.Rehoboam died and his son Abijam reigned over Judah, Verse 31.

4.Chapter 15, Continued War; Various Kings. (cf Verses 9-15)

5.Chapter 16, The Reigns Of Evil Kings Of Israel.

a.Zimri got drunk, assassinated King Elah, and took the throne,
Verses 1-7,8-10.

b.Zimri was attacked by the army; He burned the King’s house and himself at Tirzah, Verses 11-20.

c.There was civil strife over the next king; Omri won and made Samaria his capital, Verses 22-24.

d.Ahab was the next and worst king; He married Jezebel; They established Baal worship, Verses 25-34, 25-26,30,31,33.

B.THE MINISTRY OF ELIJAH -- CHAPTERS 17-19:

1.Chapter 17, Elijah.

a.Elijah was God’s powerful answer to Ahab and Jezebel.

b.Elijah prophesied drought; He was fed by ravens and by the widow of Zarephath, Verses 1-16.

c.The widow’s son died and was raised by Elijah, Verses 17-24.

2.Chapter 18, Elijah And The Prophets Of Baal.

a.Elijah met Ahab -- Elijah challenged for a contest with Jezebel’s prophets, Verses 1-20.

b.Elijah called on the people either to serve Jehovah, or serve Baal, Verse 21.

c.The great contest on Mt. Carmel; The prophets of Baal were slain,
Verses 22-40.

d.The drought was broken, Verses 41-46.

3.Chapter 19, Elijah And Elisha.

a.Jezebel vowed to kill Elijah; Elijah fled, Verses 1-4.

b.He was fed twice by God under the juniper tree; He went forty days on that strength, Verses 5-8.

c.Elisha was called to follow and assist Elijah, Verses 9-21.

C.FINAL DAYS OF AHAB -- CHAPTERS 20-22:

1.Chapter 20, Israel’s War With Syria.

a.Ahab’s Syrian campaigns and his victories over Syria and their King Benhadad, Verses 1-30.

b.Ahab was told to kill Benhadad, but did not do so; A prophet condemned him for this sin, Verses 31-43.

2.Chapter 21, The Vineyard Of Naboth.

a.Ahab wanted Naboth’s vineyard, but Naboth would not sell it to him,
Verses 1-4.

b.Jezebel got the vineyard by having Naboth killed, Verses 5-16.

c.Elijah prophesied to Ahab and Jezebel that they would suffer for their wickedness, Verses 17-29.

3.Chapter 22, The Death Of Ahab.

a.Ahab (king of Israel) made an alliance with Jehoshaphat (king of Judah) to fight the Syrians, Verses 1-29.

b.Ahab killed in battle; dogs licked up his blood, Verses 30-40.

c.These Verses give some of the details about the reigns of good King Jehoshaphat and bad King Ahaziah, Verses 41-53.

**SOLOMON:

1.He was an amazingly talented wise man who became a fool.

2.He knew how to amass great wealth, and creatively use it.

3.He brought the Kingdom to its zenith, both politically and economically.

4.The warning had been given to the kings concerning the taking of many wives - Deu 17:17.

5.Solomon ignored the law, and his polygamy was the beginning of the end for the United Kingdom, 1Kg 11:1-4.

6.Perhaps the spectacle of his apostasy was recorded to help us see what luxury and extravagance and endless rounds of pleasure will do even to the best of people.

**CONTRIBUTION OF THE BOOK OF FIRST KINGS TO THE BIBLE:

1.In The Book of FIRST SAMUEL the Kingdom was established.

2.In The Book of SECOND SAMUEL the Kingdom was consolidated.

3.In The Book of FIRST KINGS the Kingdom went from the height of glory to the depth of division.

4.In The Book of FIRST KINGS we were introduced to PROPHETS (forthtellers more than foretellers) - cf Ex 6:29-7:2; 4:16.

5.This sad story of division and sin in FIRST KINGS will be brought to its sorry conclusion in SECOND KINGS.

**CHRIST IN THE BOOK OF FIRST KINGS:

1.SOLOMON clearly is a TYPE OF CHRIST:

a.In his wisdom - See wisdom displayed in the Life and Words of Jesus Christ.

b.In his fame, glory, wealth, honor - 1Ti 6:15.

c.Yet CHRIST FAR EXCEEDS SOLOMON in every respect - Mt 12:42.

2.ELIJAH is a type of JOHN THE IMMERSER, but his prophecies and miracles also suggest the Messiah.

**FIRST KINGS IN NINE WORDS: United Kingdom Under Solomon;

Divided Kingdom Under Many Kings.

**FIRST KINGS IN SIX WORDS: Expansion And Glory;

Division And Decline.

**IN OUR PRESENT TIME THERE IS ONE KINGDOM AND ONE KING - Col 1:13

ARE YOU IN THAT KINGDOM? JN 3:5; REV 1:5-6