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Atomic Bible
Book 11 · History

1 Kings

1 Kings begins with David's failing strength and follows the kingdom through Solomon's wisdom, splendor, and temple-building into his divided heart and the kingdom's fracture after him. The book traces how rule in Israel turns on faithfulness to the LORD: glory and order appear for a time, but compromise, false worship, and stubborn kings leave both Israel and Judah increasingly unstable.

This book carries Israel from the settled promise of David's reign into the long unraveling of the monarchy. In the larger canon, it shows that kingship, land, and worship cannot hold together by power or wealth alone; they stand or fall on covenant faithfulness.

Chapters22
Reading time~92 min·21,266 words
ThemesKingdom · Land · Leadership · Faithfulness
Opens with“Now King David was old and well along in years, and though they covered him with blankets, he could not keep warm.”
Chapters

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Outline

Every section, in order.

  1. Chapter 1
    1. Abishag Cares for Davidvv. 1-4
    2. Adonijah Usurps the Kingdomvv. 5-10
    3. Nathan and Bathsheba before Davidvv. 11-27
    4. David Renews His Oath to Bathshebavv. 28-31
    5. Solomon Anointed Kingvv. 32-40
    6. Adonijah Learns of Solomon’s Kingshipvv. 41-53
  2. Chapter 2
    1. David Instructs Solomonvv. 1-9
    2. David’s Reign and Deathvv. 10-12
    3. The Execution of Adonijahvv. 13-27
    4. The Execution of Joabvv. 28-35
    5. The Execution of Shimeivv. 36-46
  3. Chapter 3Solomon’s Prayer for Wisdom and Solomon Judges Wisely
    1. Solomon’s Prayer for Wisdomvv. 1-15
    2. Solomon Judges Wiselyvv. 16-28
  4. Chapter 4
    1. Solomon’s Princesvv. 1-6
    2. Solomon’s Twelve Officersvv. 7-19
    3. Solomon’s Prosperityvv. 20-28
    4. Solomon’s Wisdomvv. 29-34
  5. Chapter 5
    1. Preparations for the Templevv. 1-6
    2. Hiram’s Reply to Solomonvv. 7-12
    3. Solomon’s Labor Forcevv. 13-18
  6. Chapter 6
    1. Temple Construction Beginsvv. 1-4
    2. The Chambersvv. 5-10
    3. God’s Promise to Solomonvv. 11-13
    4. The Temple’s Interiorvv. 14-22
    5. The Cherubimvv. 23-30
    6. The Doorsvv. 31-35
    7. The Courtyardvv. 36-38
  7. Chapter 7
    1. Solomon’s Palace Complexvv. 1-12
    2. The Pillars and Capitalsvv. 13-22
    3. The Molten Seavv. 23-26
    4. The Ten Bronze Standsvv. 27-37
    5. The Ten Bronze Basinsvv. 38-39
    6. Completion of the Bronze Worksvv. 40-47
    7. Completion of the Gold Furnishingsvv. 48-51
  8. Chapter 8
    1. The Ark Enters the Templevv. 1-11
    2. Solomon Blesses the LORDvv. 12-21
    3. Solomon’s Prayer of Dedicationvv. 22-53
    4. Solomon’s Benedictionvv. 54-61
    5. Sacrifices of Dedicationvv. 62-66
  9. Chapter 9The LORD’s Response to Solomon and Solomon’s Additional Achievements
    1. The LORD’s Response to Solomonvv. 1-9
    2. Solomon’s Additional Achievementsvv. 10-28
  10. Chapter 10The Queen of Sheba and Solomon’s Wealth and Splendor
    1. The Queen of Shebavv. 1-13
    2. Solomon’s Wealth and Splendorvv. 14-29
  11. Chapter 11
    1. Solomon’s Foreign Wivesvv. 1-8
    2. God’s Anger against Solomonvv. 9-13
    3. Hadad’s Returnvv. 14-22
    4. Rezon’s Hostilityvv. 23-25
    5. Jeroboam’s Rebellionvv. 26-40
    6. The Death of Solomonvv. 41-43
  12. Chapter 12
    1. Rebellion against Rehoboamvv. 1-15
    2. The Kingdom Dividedvv. 16-19
    3. Shemaiah’s Prophecyvv. 20-24
    4. Jeroboam’s Idolatryvv. 25-33
  13. Chapter 13Jeroboam’s Hand Withers and The Old Prophet and the Man of God
    1. Jeroboam’s Hand Withersvv. 1-10
    2. The Old Prophet and the Man of Godvv. 11-34
  14. Chapter 14
    1. Ahijah’s Prophecy against Jeroboamvv. 1-18
    2. Nadab Succeeds Jeroboamvv. 19-20
    3. Rehoboam Reigns in Judahvv. 21-24
    4. Shishak Raids Jerusalemvv. 25-31
  15. Chapter 15
    1. Abijam Reigns in Judahvv. 1-8
    2. Asa Reigns in Judahvv. 9-15
    3. War between Asa and Baashavv. 16-22
    4. Jehoshaphat Succeeds Asavv. 23-24
    5. Nadab Reigns in Israelvv. 25-32
    6. Baasha Reigns in Israelvv. 33-34
  16. Chapter 16
    1. Jehu’s Prophecy against Baashavv. 1-7
    2. Elah Reigns in Israelvv. 8-14
    3. Zimri Reigns in Israelvv. 15-20
    4. Omri Reigns in Israelvv. 21-28
    5. Ahab Reigns in Israel, Marries Jezebelvv. 29-34
  17. Chapter 17
    1. The Ravens Feed Elijahvv. 1-7
    2. The Widow of Zarephathvv. 8-16
    3. Elijah Raises the Widow’s Sonvv. 17-24
  18. Chapter 18
    1. Elijah’s Message to Ahabvv. 1-15
    2. Elijah on Mount Carmelvv. 16-35
    3. Elijah’s Prayervv. 36-40
    4. The LORD Sends Rainvv. 41-46
  19. Chapter 19
    1. Elijah Flees from Jezebelvv. 1-8
    2. The LORD Speaks to Elijah at Horebvv. 9-18
    3. The Call of Elishavv. 19-21
  20. Chapter 20
    1. Ben-hadad Attacks Samariavv. 1-12
    2. Ahab Defeats Ben-hadadvv. 13-25
    3. Another War with Ben-hadadvv. 26-30
    4. Ahab Spares Ben-hadadvv. 31-34
    5. A Prophet Reproves Ahabvv. 35-43
  21. Chapter 21
    1. Naboth’s Vineyardvv. 1-7
    2. Jezebel’s Plotvv. 8-16
    3. Elijah Denounces Ahab and Jezebelvv. 17-24
    4. Ahab’s Repentancevv. 25-29
  22. Chapter 22
    1. Ahab and the False Prophetsvv. 1-12
    2. Micaiah Prophesies against Ahabvv. 13-28
    3. Ahab’s Defeat and Deathvv. 29-40
    4. Jehoshaphat Reigns in Judahvv. 41-50
    5. Ahaziah Reigns in Israelvv. 51-53
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