1 Kings

1 Kings is the eleventh book of the Bible and continues the story directly from 2 Samuel. It traces the history of Israel's monarchy from the end of David's reign through the division of the kingdom and the careers of the prophet Elijah. The book is traditionally attributed to the prophet Jeremiah, though the author is unknown.

The book opens with David near death. His son Solomon becomes king after a brief succession struggle. Solomon is famous for his wisdom; God offers him anything he wants and he asks for wisdom to govern well. He becomes wealthy and respected internationally. He builds the temple in Jerusalem, an enormous project that takes seven years. The Queen of Sheba visits to confirm reports of his wealth and wisdom.

But Solomon's later years go badly. He accumulates many foreign wives who turn his heart to other gods. After his death, his son Rehoboam refuses to lighten the tax burden, and the ten northern tribes break away under Jeroboam. The kingdom splits, with Israel in the north and Judah in the south, and the rest of the book alternates between their kings.

The northern kingdom slides quickly into idolatry under King Ahab and his wife Jezebel. The prophet Elijah dominates the closing chapters: he confronts Ahab, calls down fire from heaven in a contest against the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel, flees into the wilderness, and confronts Ahab again over the murder of a man named Naboth.