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- Old Testament
Book of 1 Kings
Pronunciation:
Authorship and Origin:
As described in the discussion of I Samuel, orginally, the books of I and II Samuel, and I and
II Kings were originally one large volume, and were broken up later. Certainly I and II Kings were one volume for a long time. In 622B.C. the Deuteronomic (D) Code was discovered during temple renovations as ordered by King Josiah. The code was adopted as national law. There was no official or 'canonized' history of Israel however, so it appears that during this same time period, a history was commissioned. Much of the 'D' Code was used as source for this history, as well as sources mentioned in the books themselves including: 'the book of the acts of Solomon', the 'Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel', and Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah'. Other sources include the words of the prophets Elijah, Elisha, and Isaiah, David's court memoirs, and other partial sacred histories.
I Kings spans about 120 years of history of which the first 40 are an era of prosperity under Solomon (David's son). After the death of Solomon, the nation split into two rival states, Israel and Judah. The history told in I Kings is paralleled in 2 Chronicles 1-20, but from a different perspective.
Overview and Significant sections
Significant sections:
For more detailed study:
Read Chapter 1. (the entire book is available starting here.)
The Concise Matthew Henry Commentary on this book.
bible.org introduction of this book.
the World Wide Study Bible has Dictionary, Commentary, Scripture and sermons available
on this book.
