1 Kings · The Old Testament, Animated

Overview

1 Kings covers about 120 years, from the last days of David (around 970 BC) to the death of Ahab of Israel and the reign of his son Ahaziah (around 850 BC). It begins with Israel at the height of its power under Solomon and ends with the nation split in two and the northern kingdom deep in the worship of Baal.

In the Hebrew Bible, 1 and 2 Kings are one book. Jewish tradition credits Jeremiah; many scholars see it as a history compiled during or after the Babylonian exile from sources it names, such as "the book of the acts of Solomon" and the chronicles of the kings of Israel and Judah. It judges each king by one measure: faithfulness to the Lord and to worship at the Jerusalem temple.

The book has three movements: Solomon's accession, wisdom and temple (ch 1–11); the division of the kingdom and the kings that follow (ch 12–16); and the ministry of Elijah in the reign of Ahab (ch 17–22).

Part 1 — Solomon's reign (chapters 1–11)

The succession (1). David is old and cannot keep warm. His son Adonijah, backed by Joab and the priest Abiathar, proclaims himself king at a feast. Nathan and Bathsheba remind David of his oath that Solomon would reign. David orders Solomon anointed at Gihon by Zadok the priest; the trumpet sounds: "God save king Solomon." Adonijah's guests flee.

David's charge and death (2). "Be thou strong… and shew thyself a man; and keep the charge of the Lord thy God." David dies after forty years. Solomon secures his throne: Adonijah, Joab and Shimei are executed, and Abiathar is banished to Anathoth.

The gift of wisdom (3). At Gibeon the Lord appears to Solomon in a dream: "Ask what I shall give thee." Solomon asks for "an understanding heart to judge thy people." God grants it, with riches and honour besides. Two women claim the same baby; Solomon calls for a sword to divide the child, and the true mother gives way to save his life.

Peace and wisdom (4). Judah and Israel are "many, as the sand which is by the sea," and live safely, "every man under his vine and under his fig tree." Solomon's wisdom exceeds all the East; he speaks three thousand proverbs and 1,005 songs.

Building the temple (5–7). Hiram of Tyre supplies cedar and cypress; huge levies of workers cut and haul stone. In Solomon's fourth year, "in the four hundred and eightieth year" after the Exodus, building begins. Stones are dressed at the quarry so no hammer is heard on site. The interior is cedar overlaid with gold, carved with cherubim, palms and flowers; bronze pillars named Jachin and Boaz stand at the porch, with the great bronze Sea. The temple takes seven years, Solomon's own palace thirteen.

The dedication (8). The priests bring the Ark into the Most Holy Place, under the cherubim's wings. A cloud fills the house, "for the glory of the Lord had filled the house." Solomon prays with hands spread towards heaven: "The heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house." He asks God to hear prayer made towards this place — in defeat, drought, famine, and even exile — and to forgive.

God's answer (9). The Lord appears again. If Solomon walks in integrity, his throne will stand; if Israel turns to other gods, the temple will become "a heap" and a byword among the nations.

Splendour and the Queen of Sheba (9–10). Solomon builds cities, chariot towns and a fleet. The Queen of Sheba comes with spices, gold and stones to test him with hard questions. Overwhelmed, she says, "The half was not told me." Silver becomes as common as stones in Jerusalem, and Solomon sits on a great ivory throne overlaid with gold.

Solomon's fall (11). Solomon loves many foreign women — seven hundred wives and three hundred concubines — and in old age "his wives turned away his heart after other gods." He builds high places for Chemosh and Molech. God raises adversaries: Hadad of Edom, Rezon of Damascus, and Jeroboam son of Nebat. The prophet Ahijah tears his new cloak into twelve pieces and gives Jeroboam ten: ten tribes will be his, one kept for David's sake. Solomon dies after forty years.

Part 2 — The divided kingdom (chapters 12–16)

Rehoboam at Shechem (12:1–24). The people ask Solomon's son Rehoboam to lighten their burdens. He rejects the elders' counsel and follows his young friends: "My little finger shall be thicker than my father's loins." The northern tribes cry, "To your tents, O Israel," and make Jeroboam king. Only Judah and Benjamin remain with David's house.

Jeroboam's calves (12:25–33). To stop his people going up to Jerusalem, Jeroboam sets golden calves at Bethel and Dan — "behold thy gods, O Israel" — with new priests and feasts. "The sin of Jeroboam" becomes the yardstick for every northern king.

The man of God from Judah (13). A prophet cries against the altar at Bethel and foretells a king named Josiah. Jeroboam's outstretched hand withers and the altar splits. Deceived by an old prophet into disobeying God's command not to eat there, the man of God is killed by a lion on his way home.

Kings of Judah and Israel (14–16). Ahijah foretells the end of Jeroboam's house. In Judah, Rehoboam's reign sees idolatry and an Egyptian raid by Shishak; Abijam follows; Asa reforms worship and removes idols. In Israel, dynasties fall by assassination: Nadab, Baasha, Elah, Zimri (seven days), then Omri, who builds Samaria as his capital. Omri's son Ahab marries Jezebel of Sidon, builds a temple to Baal in Samaria, and "did more to provoke the Lord God of Israel to anger than all the kings of Israel that were before him." Jericho is rebuilt at the cost foretold by Joshua.

Part 3 — Elijah and Ahab (chapters 17–22)

Drought and ravens (17:1–7). Elijah the Tishbite announces to Ahab that there will be no dew nor rain "but according to my word." He hides by the brook Cherith, where ravens bring him bread and meat.

The widow of Zarephath (17:8–24). In Sidonian territory, Baal's home ground, a widow shares her last flour and oil; "the barrel of meal wasted not, neither did the cruse of oil fail." When her son dies, Elijah stretches himself on the boy three times and he revives.

Mount Carmel (18). In the third year Elijah meets Obadiah, Ahab's God-fearing steward, then Ahab, "he that troubleth Israel." On Carmel he challenges the people: "How long halt ye between two opinions?" The 450 prophets of Baal call from morning until evening, limping around their altar and cutting themselves, while Elijah mocks. He rebuilds the Lord's altar with twelve stones, drenches it with water, and prays. Fire falls and consumes sacrifice, wood, stones and water. The people cry, "The Lord, he is the God." The prophets of Baal are killed at the brook Kishon.

The rain (18:41–46). Elijah prays seven times until "a little cloud out of the sea, like a man's hand" appears. A great storm breaks, and Elijah runs ahead of Ahab's chariot to Jezreel.

Despair and the still small voice (19). Jezebel vows to kill him. Elijah flees to the wilderness and asks to die under a juniper (broom) tree. An angel feeds him twice, and he travels forty days to Horeb. There the Lord passes by: not in wind, earthquake or fire, but in "a still small voice." Elijah is told he is not alone — seven thousand have not bowed to Baal — and is sent to anoint Hazael, Jehu and Elisha. He finds Elisha ploughing with twelve yoke of oxen and throws his mantle over him.

Wars with Aram (20). Ahab twice defeats Ben-hadad of Aram with prophetic help, but then spares him and makes a treaty, and a prophet condemns him.

Naboth's vineyard (21). Ahab covets Naboth's vineyard in Jezreel. Naboth refuses to sell "the inheritance of my fathers." Jezebel arranges false witnesses and Naboth is stoned. Elijah confronts Ahab: "Hast thou found me, O mine enemy?" Dogs will lick Ahab's blood where they licked Naboth's, and dogs will eat Jezebel. Ahab humbles himself in sackcloth, and the disaster is postponed to his son's days.

Micaiah and Ahab's death (22). Ahab and Jehoshaphat of Judah plan to retake Ramoth-gilead. Four hundred prophets promise victory; Micaiah son of Imlah sees "all Israel scattered upon the hills, as sheep that have not a shepherd," and a lying spirit in the prophets' mouths. Ahab jails him and rides out disguised. "A certain man drew a bow at a venture" and strikes Ahab between the joints of his armour. He dies propped in his chariot; dogs lick his blood at Samaria. The book closes with Jehoshaphat's faithful reign in Judah and Ahaziah's Baal worship in Israel.

Key themes, and the bridge to 2 Kings

Faithfulness and the covenant. Kings are measured by loyalty to the Lord; blessing and disaster follow Deuteronomy's pattern.
The temple and the name. God's presence fills the temple, yet "the heaven of heavens cannot contain" him; Solomon's prayer anticipates exile and forgiveness.
Wisdom is not enough. The wisest king is undone by a divided heart.
One God or many. The contest on Carmel crystallises the book's question: will Israel serve the Lord or Baal?
The prophetic word. Prophets — Nathan, Ahijah, the man of God, Elijah, Micaiah — confront kings, and their words come true.

1 Kings ends mid-story: Ahab is dead, his son serves Baal, and judgement on his house is pending. Elijah is still alive with Elisha at his side. 2 Kings continues seamlessly, opening with Ahaziah's fall, Elijah's departure in a chariot of fire, and Elisha taking up his mantle.