1 Kings (KJV)
22 chapters · 816 verses. Choose a chapter to read it in the King James Version.
About the Book of 1 Kings
First Kings recounts Solomon's reign and the temple's construction, then the kingdom's division and the spiraling unfaithfulness of its kings. It evaluates each ruler by covenant faithfulness and introduces the prophets Elijah and Elisha.
- Genre
- Historical narrative
- Author
- Anonymous; traditionally attributed to Jeremiah
- First audience
- Judah, likely during or after the exile
How to read it: Read narrative through its evaluative lens — kings are measured by faithfulness to God, not political success.
It opens: “Now king David was old and stricken in years; and they covered him with clothes, but he gat no heat.” (1 Kings 1:1)
Chapters
Key verses in 1 Kings
The verses of 1 Kings that the rest of Scripture cross-references most often.
And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word.
But will God indeed dwell on the earth? behold, the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house that I have builded?
And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead, said unto Ahab, As the LORD God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word.
And it came to pass at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near, and said, LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that thou art God in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that I have done all these things at thy word.
Then hear thou in heaven thy dwelling place, and forgive, and do, and give to every man according to his ways, whose heart thou knowest; (for thou, even thou only, knowest the hearts of all the children of men;)
Read 1 Kings with a guide
- Elijah: Renewal After Burnout7 days with the prophet who ran out of strengthAll 7 days in 1 Kings
- Depression & the Dark Night7 days on hope in the darkness1 of 7 days in 1 Kings
- Elisha: A Double Portion7 days with the servant who followed Elijah1 of 7 days in 1 Kings
- The Big Story: Genesis to Revelation30 days on the one story the whole Bible tells1 of 30 days in 1 Kings
- Women of the Bible14 days with women whose stories reveal God's faithfulness1 of 14 days in 1 Kings