Book of 1 KingsOverview, summary & 22 chapters

First Kings traces Israel's monarchy from the final days of David's reign through the division of the kingdom and subsequent history of the parallel monarchies until Jehoshaphat's rule in Judah and Ahaziah's brief reign in Israel. This theologically-oriented history evaluates each monarch according to their fidelity to the Mosaic covenant, demonstrating how leadership decisions profoundly affect national spiritual health. The narrative unfolds in three major sections: Solomon's glorious united kingdom (chapters 1-11), the kingdom's division and early parallel monarchies (chapters 12-16), and the ministries of Elijah and Elisha during Ahab's dynasty in northern Israel (chapters 17-22).