Chapters from the First Book of Kings will be displayed on the front page of Portal:Bible.
1 Kings 1
Adonijah gathers supporters to his claim to be David's heir. Opposed to this are Zadok, Benaiah, Nathan, and Shimei, as well as the army generals, who favour Solomon. Nathan and Bathsheba persuade David to announce that Solomon is his heir.
PEOPLE: David - Adonijah - Joab - Abiathar - Zadok - Benaiah - Nathan - Shimei - Rei - King David's Warriors - Tribe of Judah - Solomon - Bathsheba - Abishag - יהוה YHVH God - Cherethites - Pelethites - Jonathan
PLACES: Israel - Zoheleth - Enrogel - Gihon
RELATED ARTICLES: Haggith - Absalom - Zeruiah - Jehoiada - Kohen - Prophet - Shunammite - Shofar - Tabernacle - Abiathar
ENGLISH TEXT: American Standard - Douay-Rheims - Free - King James - Jewish Publication Society - Tyndale - World English - Wycliffe1 Kings 2
Dying, David instructs Solomon to take revenge on Joab, a supporter of Adonijah, and Shimei. Adonijah approaches Bathsheba asking for Abishag, but Solomon has Benaiah slaughter Adonijah. Abiathar is deposed and is replaced by Zadok. Solomon has Benaiah slaughter Joab at the altar. As for Shimei, Solomon orders him to remain in Jerusalem, but when Shimei later retrieves his servants who had fled to Gath, Solomon has Benaiah slaughter Shimei for leaving.
PEOPLE: David - Solomon - יהוה YHVH God - Joab - Shimei - Adonijah - Bathsheba - Abishag - Abiathar - Benaiah - Zadok - Achish
PLACES: Israel - Bahurim - Mahanaim - Jordan River - Hebron - Jerusalem - Anathoth - Shiloh - Kidron - Gath
RELATED ARTICLES: Moses - Zeruiah - Abner - Ner - Amasa - Jether - Barzillai - Gileadite - Absalom - Gera - Tribe of Benjamin - Haggith - Shunammite - Kohen - Jehoiada - Eli - Ark of the Covenant - Tabernacle - Maachah
ENGLISH TEXT: American Standard - Douay–Rheims - Free - King James - Jewish Publication Society - Tyndale - World English - Wycliffe1 Kings 3
Solomon forms an alliance with Egypt by marrying the daughter of Pharaoh. God appears to Solomon and grants him a wish, so Solomon asks for wisdom. Two prostitutes come to settle an argument as to who is the mother of a particular baby. Solomon asks for a sword to cut the baby in half. When the first prostitute tells him not to kill the baby she proves herself to be the mother.
PEOPLE: Solomon - Pharaoh - Pharaoh's daughter - יהוה YHVH
PLACES: Egypt - Jerusalem - Gibeon
RELATED ARTICLES: David - Korban - Slaughter offering - Prostitution
ENGLISH TEXT: American Standard - Douay-Rheims - Free - King James - Jewish Publication Society - Tyndale - World English - Wycliffe1 Kings 4
A list of men serving under King Solomon followed by a list of Solomon's assets.
PEOPLE: Solomon - Azariah (son of Zadok) - Elihoreph - Ahiah - Jehoshaphat (son of Ahilud) - Benaiah - Zadok - Abiathar - Azariah (son of Nathan) - Zabud - Ahishar - Adoniram - son of Hur - son of Dekar - son of Hesed - son of Abinadab - Taphath - Baana - son of Geber - Ahinadab - Ahimaaz - Basmath - Baanah - Jehoshaphat, son of Paruah - Shimei - Geber - Ethan the Ezrahite - Heman - Chalcol - Darda
PLACES: Israel - mount Ephraim - Makaz - Shaalbim - Bethshemesh - Elonbethhanan - Aruboth - Sochoh - Hepher - Dor - Taanach - Megiddo - Bethshean - Zartanah - Jezreel - Bethshean - Abelmeholah - Jokneam - Ramothgilead - Gilead - Argob - Bashan - Mahanaim - Naphtali - Asher - Aloth - Issachar - Benjamin - Bashan - Egypt - Tiphsah - Azzah - Dan - Beersheba
RELATED ARTICLES: Kohen - Shisha - Scribe - Ahilud - Recorder - Jehoiada - Nathan - Abda - Ahilud - Jair - Manasses - Iddo - Hushai - Paruah - Elah - Uri - Sihon - Amorites - Og - Philistines - Mahol
ENGLISH TEXT: American Standard - Douay–Rheims - Free - King James - Jewish Publication Society - Tyndale - World English - Wycliffe1 Kings 5
Hiram of Tyre, a political ally of David's, sends an embassy to Solomon. Solomon and Hiram enter into a trade agreement so that Solomon can obtain the necessary raw materials to build a temple.
PEOPLE: Hiram - Solomon - יהוה YHVH God - Adoniram
PLACES: Tyre, Lebanon - Sidon
RELATED ARTICLES: David - Solomon's Temple
ENGLISH TEXT: American Standard - Douay-Rheims - Free - King James - Jewish Publication Society - Tyndale - World English - Wycliffe1 Kings 6
Construction of the Temple begins 480 years after the Exodus, and is completed in seven years.
PLACES: Jerusalem
RELATED ARTICLES: Egypt - Zif - Hebrew Calendar - Solomon's Temple - Cubit - David - Cherub - Bul
ENGLISH TEXT: American Standard - Douay-Rheims - Free - King James - Jewish Publication Society - Tyndale - World English - Wycliffe1 Kings 7
Solomon builds a palace for himself. A bronze worker called Hiram is brought from Tyre to do Solomon's metal work. Two columns — named Jachin and Boaz — are built next to the temple door, and the temple is generally designed like those of Hadad in Tyre's vassal states.
PEOPLE: Solomon - Pharaoh's daughter - יהוה YHVH - Hiram
PLACES: Lebanon - Tyre - Succoth - Zarthan
RELATED ARTICLES: Cubit - Judge - Tribe of Naphtali - Boaz and Jachin
ENGLISH TEXT: American Standard - Douay-Rheims - Free - King James - Jewish Publication Society - Tyndale - World English - Wycliffe1 Kings 8
The elders of Israel and the Israelite princes come to Solomon for the moving of Ark of the Covenant from Zion. When the ark arrives in the Temple, a dark cloud fills the temple, which Solomon says is where Yahweh intends to dwell forever.
PEOPLE: Solomon - יהוה YHVH God - Children of Israel - Levites
PLACES: Jerusalem - Zion - Israel
RELATED ARTICLES: Solomon's Temple - Ark of the Covenant - Hebrew Calendar - Ethanim - David - Tabernacle - Kohen - Korban - Holy of Holies - Cherub - Tablets of stone - Moses - The Exodus - Pillar of Fire (theophany)
ENGLISH TEXT: American Standard - Douay-Rheims - Free - King James - Jewish Publication Society - Tyndale - World English - Wycliffe1 Kings 9
Solomon extracts a promise from Yahweh to uphold the Davidic covenant and to return to the aid of the people if they sin but later repent. After twenty years of giving Solomon the supplies that he wished for, Hiram is given twenty cities in Galilee by Solomon, which became known as Cabul.
PEOPLE: Solomon - יהוה YHVH God - Hiram - Pharaoh - Canaanites - Pharaoh's daughter (wife of Solomon) - Children of Israel
PLACES: Galilee - Tyre - Cabul - Millo - Jerusalem - Hazor - Megiddo - Gezer - Bethoron - Baalath - Tadmor - Lebanon - Eziongeber - Eloth - Red Sea - Edom - Ophir
RELATED ARTICLES: Solomon's Temple - Gibeah - David - Egypt - The Exodus - Amorites - Biblical Hittites - Perizzites - Hivites - Jebusites - Korban - Incense - Talent (measurement)
ENGLISH TEXT: American Standard - Douay-Rheims - Free - King James - Jewish Publication Society - Tyndale - World English - Wycliffe1 Kings 10
The Queen of Sheba visits Solomon and tests his wisdom, bringing with her a large retinue and precious expensive things. Solomon's replies leave her breathless at his wisdom, and she is further impressed by his waiters and banquet, and therefore gives Solomon some of her precious things. Before she returns to her homeland, Solomon gives her everything that she asks for and other presents.
PEOPLE: Queen of Sheba - Solomon - יהוה YHVH God - Hiram
PLACES: Israel - Ophir - Arabia - Lebanon - Jerusalem - Egypt - Syria
RELATED ARTICLES: Algum - Tarshish - 666 - Shekel - Biblical Hittites
ENGLISH TEXT: American Standard - Douay-Rheims - Free - King James - Jewish Publication Society - Tyndale - World English - Wycliffe1 Kings 11
Apart from his Egyptian wife, Solomon also had over 700 wives and 300 concubines from nations that the Mizvot forbid intermarriage with. The wives make Solomon polytheistic, worshipping the gods of his wives, such as Astarte, Milcom, and Chemosh, even building high places to them opposite Jerusalem. So Yahweh promises Solomon that a part of the kingdom will be removed and given to another during the reign of Solomon's descendants.
PEOPLE: Solomon - Pharaoh's daughter (wife of Solomon) - Moabites - Ammonites - Edomites - Zidonians - Biblical Hittites - יהוה YHVH God - Hadad - Genubath - Pharaoh - Tahpenes - Rezon - Jeroboam - Ahijah the Shilonite
PLACES: Jerusalem - Egypt - Midian - Paran - Zobah - Damascus - Syria
RELATED ARTICLES: Polygamy - Concubine - David - Idolatry - Astarte - Milcom - Chemosh - Molech - Joab - Eliadah - Hadadezer - Nebat - Ephrathite - Zereda - Zeruah - Millo - Tribe of Joseph - Acts of Solomon
ENGLISH TEXT: American Standard - Douay-Rheims - Free - King James - Jewish Publication Society - Tyndale - World English - Wycliffe1 Kings 12
Rehoboam goes to Shechem to be acclaimed king. They appeal to Rehoboam to have their servitude lightened, but he enforces even heavier servitude. This results in rebellion. Rehoboam is forced to flee to Jerusalem because only Judah remains loyal to him.
PEOPLE: Rehoboam - Jeroboam - יהוה YHVH God - Ahijah the Shilonite - Adoram - Tribe of Judah - Tribe of Benjamin - Shemaiah
PLACES: Shechem - Israel - Egypt - Jerusalem - Kingdom of Judah - Mount Ephraim - Penuel - Bethel - Dan - Kohen
RELATED ARTICLES: Nebat - Solomon - David - Jesse
ENGLISH TEXT: American Standard - Douay-Rheims - Free - King James - Jewish Publication Society - Tyndale - World English - Wycliffe1 Kings 13
A prophet from Judah appears before Jeroboam with a warning message from the Lord. Attempting to arrest the prophet for his bold words of defiance, his hand is "dried up," and the altar before which he stands is rent asunder. At his urgent entreaty his "hand was restored him again"; but the miracle makes no abiding impression on him.
PEOPLE: יהוה YHVH God - Jeroboam
PLACES: Kingdom of Judah - Bethel - Samaria
RELATED ARTICLES: Prophet - Kohen
ENGLISH TEXT: American Standard - Douay-Rheims - Free - King James - Jewish Publication Society - Tyndale - World English - Wycliffe1 Kings 14
On account of the severe illness when his son, Jeroboam sends his wife to consult the prophet Ahijah regarding his recovery. The prophet, though blind with old age, knows the wife of Jeroboam as soon as she approaches, and under a divine impulse he announces to her that the child will die. Shishaq, the Pharaoh, attacks Jerusalem, looting the temple and palace, leaving Rehoboam compelled to use bronze to replace the golden shields of Solomon that Shishaq had taken.
PEOPLE: Abijah - Jeroboam - Ahijah - יהוה YHVH God - Nadab - Rehoboam - Naamah - Shishaq - Abijam
PLACES: Shiloh - Israel - Tirzah - Judah - Jerusalem
RELATED ARTICLES: David - Idolatry - Prophet - Chronicles of the Kings of Israel - Solomon - Ammon - Sodomy - Egypt - Sack of Jerusalem (925 BC) - Solomon's Temple - Chronicles of the Kings of Judah
ENGLISH TEXT: American Standard - Douay-Rheims - Free - King James - Jewish Publication Society - Tyndale - World English - Wycliffe1 Kings 15
Abijam becomes king of Judah. He continues the war against Jeroboam. Abijam's son, Asa, succeeds him, and he quickly deposes Maacah, his grandmother, from having any authority, because she supports the Canaanite religious practices. There is a perpetual war between him and King Baasha of Israel, who had support from Ben-hadad, king of Aram. Asa buys Ben-hadad's loyalty by sending him what remained of the treasures of the temple. Jehosaphat succeeds his father, Asa, as king of Judah.
PEOPLE: Jeroboam – Abijam – Maachah – יהוה YHVH God – Asa – Baasha – Benhadad – Jehoshaphat – Nadab
PLACES: Judah – Jerusalem – Israel – Kidron – Ramah – Syria – Damascus – Ijon – Abel-beth-maachah – Cinneroth – Tirzah – Geba – Mizpah – Gibbethon
RELATED ARTICLES: Nebat – Abishalom – David – Uriah the Hittite – Chronicles of the Kings of Judah – Sodomy – Idolatry – Solomon's Temple – Tabrimon – Hezion – Tribe of Issachar – Tribe of Naphtali – Tribe of Dan – Tribe of Benjamin – Philistines – Ahijah the Shilonite – Chronicles of the Kings of Israel
ENGLISH TEXT: American Standard – Douay–Rheims – Free – King James – Jewish Publication Society – Tyndale – World English – Wycliffe1 Kings 16
Baasha is succeeded by his son, Elah. One of his commanders, Zimri, plots against him and strikes him dead. Zimri then slaughters all the remaining relatives of Baasha and takes over the throne of Israel. The army, however, proclaim Omri as the king and lay siege to Tirzah, where Zimri is located. Zimri burns his palace to the ground, killing himself. Omri constructs a new capital at Samaria.
PEOPLE: יהוה YHVH God – Jehu – Baasha – Elah – Asa – Zimri – Arza – Omri – Tibni – Shemer – Ahab – Jezebel – Ethbaal – Hiel – Abiram – Segub
PLACES: Israel – Tirzah – Judah – Gibbethon – Samaria – Zidon – Jericho
RELATED ARTICLES: Hanani – Jeroboam – Nebat – Chronicles of the Kings of Israel – Prophet – Philistines – Treason – Ginath – Bethelite – Baal – Joshua – Nun
ENGLISH TEXT: American Standard – Douay–Rheims – Free – King James – Jewish Publication Society – Tyndale – World English – Wycliffe1 Kings 17
Elijah gives a warning to Ahab, king of Israel, that there will be years of drought. Elijah is sent to a widow who tells him she hasn't enough flour or oil. Elijah promises that the flour and oil will last until the rains return, which comes true. The widow's son later grows sick and stops breathing. Elijah lays the son's body on his own bed, stretches himself over on the body three times, and prays, and the son comes back to life.
PEOPLE: Elijah - Ahab - יהוה YHVH God
PLACES: Gilead - Cherith - Jordan River - Zarephath - Zidon
RELATED ARTICLES: Tishbite - Miracle
ENGLISH TEXT: American Standard - Douay-Rheims - Free - King James - Jewish Publication Society - Tyndale - World English - Wycliffe1 Kings 18
At Mount Carmel, Elijah announces he will sacrifice a bull to Yahweh, and he expects that the worshippers of Baal will sacrifice a bull to Baal, stating that the real god will respond. When there is no response from Baal, he makes the sacrifice to Yahweh, and a fire appears from heaven and consumes it. The people convert from worship of Baal to that of Yahweh en-masse.
PEOPLE: יהוה YHVH God - Elijah - Ahab - Obadiah - Jezebel - Spirit of יהוה
PLACES: Samaria - Mount Carmel - Kishon - Jezreel
RELATED ARTICLES: Prophet - Baal - Tribes of Israel - Jacob - Abraham - Isaac
ENGLISH TEXT: American Standard - Douay-Rheims - Free - King James - Jewish Publication Society - Tyndale - World English - Wycliffe1 Kings 19
Jezebel seeks revenge against Elijah, who flees to the desert of Beer-sheba. Elijah is ordered by an angel to go to Horeb. He is then ordered to go to anoint kings of Aram and Israel, and Elisha as his own successor.
PEOPLE: Ahab – Jezebel – Elijah – יהוה YHVH God – Angel of the Lord – Hazael – Jehu – Elisha
PLACES: Beersheba – Horeb – Damascus – Syria – Israel – Abel-meholah
RELATED ARTICLES: Tribe of Judah – Nimshi – Shaphat – Baal
ENGLISH TEXT: American Standard – Douay–Rheims – Free – King James – Jewish Publication Society – Tyndale – World English – Wycliffe1 Kings 20
Benhadad attacks Samaria with thirty-two vassal kings, but is defeated with a great slaughter. Yahweh says He will deliver Israel "so that you will know I am the Lord." Benhadad attacks but is utterly routed by Israel's small army, and is compelled to surrender to Ahab.
PEOPLE: Benhadad - Ahab - יהוה YHVH
PLACES: Syria - Samaria - Israel - Aphek - Damascus
RELATED ARTICLES: Prophet
ENGLISH TEXT: American Standard - Douay-Rheims - Free - King James - Jewish Publication Society - Tyndale - World English - Wycliffe1 Kings 21
Ahab tries to buy the vineyard of Naboth who refuses. Jezebel arranges for Naboth to be falsely accused and stoned to death. Elijah prophecies that Ahab's dynasty will be eaten by dogs and by the birds. Ahab then tears his clothes, so Elijah is told by Yahweh that Ahab's penitance has bought him time.
PEOPLE: Naboth - Ahab - יהוה YHVH God - Jezebel - Elijah
PLACES: Jezreel - Samaria - Kingdom of Israel
RELATED ARTICLES: Fasting - Belial - Stoning - Tishbite - Jeroboam - Nebat - Baasha - Ahijah - Idolatry - Amorites - Children of Israel
ENGLISH TEXT: American Standard - Douay-Rheims - Free - King James - Jewish Publication Society - Tyndale - World English - Wycliffe1 Kings 22
Jehoshaphat and Ahab enter a pact to take back Ramoth-gilead from Aram. Jehoshaphat asks for consultation with the prophet Micaiah, whom Ahab hates. Micaiah predicts failure. The king of Israel dies in the battle.
PEOPLE: Jehoshaphat - יהוה YHVH God - Micaiah - Zedekiah - Ahab - Spirit of the Lord - Amon - Joash - Ahaziah - Jehoram
PLACES: Syria - Israel - Judah - Ramoth - Gilead - Samaria - Edom - Tharshish - Ophir - Eziongeber
RELATED ARTICLES: Imlah - Chenaanah - Prophet - Chronicles of the Kings of Israel - Asa - Azubah - Shilhi - Chronicles of the Kings of Judah - David - Jeroboam - Nebat - Baal
ENGLISH TEXT: American Standard - Douay-Rheims - Free - King James - Jewish Publication Society - Tyndale - World English - Wycliffe