Guide to 1 Kings
Summary
The books of 1 and 2 Kings continue the history of Israel from the books of Samuel. The books of 1 and 2 Kings form a complete narrative of the history of Israel from David’s death to the Babylonian captivity, focusing especially on the reigns of the kings and ministries of the prophets. First Kings specifically details the death of David and the succession of Solomon to the throne (1 Kings 1–2), the reign of Solomon and the construction of Solomon’s Temple (1 Kings 3–11), the division of the kingdom following Solomon’s death (1 Kings 12), and the history of the two Israelite nations ending with the death of King Ahab in the northern kingdom (1 Kings 13–22).
Videos
Watch selected videos on this book of the Bible to enhance your study. Note: Not all videos included come from a Latter-day Saint perspective. Inclusion on this list should not imply endorsement for all content.
Historical Settings
Time
*All Dates Are Approximate, according to the narrative of the Bible. These dates may reflect literary significance as opposed to the precise dates of history.
See Biblical Chronology- 970–853 B.C.*
Further Reading
Richard Neitzel Holzapfel, Dana M. Pike, and David Rolph Seely, Jehovah and the World of the Old Testament: An Illustrated Reference for Latter-day Saints (Salt Lake City, UT: Deseret Book, 2009), 190–227, 246–288.
David Rolph Seely, “Kings and Chronicles,” in Studies in Scripture, vol. 4: 1 Kings to Malachi, ed. Kent P. Jackson (Salt Lake City, UT: Deseret Book, 1993), 4–11.
Andrew C. Skinner, “Kings and Prophets in Divided Israel (1 Kings 12–2 Kings 10; 2 Chronicles 23–28),” in Studies in Scripture, vol. 4: 1 Kings to Malachi, ed. Kent P. Jackson (Salt Lake City, UT: Deseret Book, 1993), 20–32.
Terrence L. Szink, “The Reign of Solomon (1 Kings 1–11, 2 Chronicles 1–9),” in Studies in Scripture, vol. 4: 1 Kings to Malachi, ed. Kent P. Jackson (Salt Lake City, UT: Deseret Book, 1993), 12–19.