The united kingdom of Israel under Solomon — the Temple, wisdom, and division.
Key themes: Solomon's wisdom, Temple, Elijah, prophets.
| Author | Unknown; possibly multiple prophetic sources |
|---|---|
| Date Written | c. 560–550 BC |
| Original Audience | Israel (compiled after the exile) |
1 Kings narrates the transition from David to his son Solomon, the height of Israel's glory under Solomon's reign, and the devastating division of the kingdom after Solomon's death. Solomon's reign (chapters 1-11) begins brilliantly — his prayer for wisdom, the construction of the magnificent Temple in Jerusalem (chapters 6-8), the visit of the Queen of Sheba — but ends in tragedy as his 700 wives and 300 concubines turn his heart to foreign gods. The kingdom splits after his death: ten tribes in the north (Israel) under Jeroboam, two in the south (Judah) under Rehoboam. Chapters 12-22 alternate between the kings of Israel and Judah, with the ministry of Elijah as the dominant narrative — his confrontation with Ahab and Jezebel, the contest on Mount Carmel, and his experience of God in the still small voice.
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