To get more background on 1 & 2 Kings read this introductory post. The book of 1 Kings covers approximately the first 100 years after the reign of King David. The first key figure is Solomon. Often remembered as the golden age of the Davidic Kingdom, one sees that Solomon is also a flawed king. Like his father, young Solomon is a man after God’s own heart, choosing wisdom over wealth as displayed by the following event. 

“In Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream at night. God said: Whatever you ask I shall give you.”

(1 Kings 3:5)

Solomon’s response is one for us to emulate. 

“Give your servant, therefore, a listening heart to judge your people and to distinguish between good and evil.”

(1 Kings 3:9)

The Fall of a Kingdom

Initially, Solomon was a great king and was responsible for building the Temple. However, he forms alliances with the surrounding nations through intermarriage. Eventually, these foreign wives and the wealth he has amassed turn his heart away from the Lord. He levies heavy taxes and the seeds of division are sown. 1 Kings chapter 11 is dedicated to recounting these ills.

“When Solomon was old his wives had turned his heart to follow other gods, and his heart was not entirely with the LORD, his God, as the heart of David his father had been.”

(1 Kings 11:4)

Solomon passes away and the kingdom passes to his son Rehoboam. Heavily taxed and led by a young man named Jeroboam, the people come to Rehoboam for relief. 

“Your father put a heavy yoke on us. If you now lighten the harsh servitude and the heavy yoke your father imposed on us, we will be your servants.”

(1 Kings 12:4)

Thus, Rehoboam could keep the kingdom united, but rather proclaims to the people, 

“My father made your yoke heavy, but I will make it heavier. My father beat you with whips, but I will beat you with scorpions.” 

(1 Kings 12:14)

Hence, the Kingdom divides. Rehoboam and his descendants rule the Kingdom of Judah in Jerusalem and a new line of kings from the line of Jeroboam rule in the separated Kingdom of Israel. However, the new kingdom has a problem, they are separated from the Temple. A problem that will again lead to spiritual infidelity. 

“Jeroboam thought to himself: “Now the kingdom will return to the house of David.

If this people go up to offer sacrifices in the house of the LORD in Jerusalem, the hearts of this people will return to their master, Rehoboam, king of Judah, and they will kill me and return to Rehoboam, king of Judah.”

The king took counsel, made two calves of gold, and said to the people: “You have been going up to Jerusalem long enough. Here are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up from the land of Egypt.”

And he put one in Bethel, the other in Dan.”

(1 Kings 12:26-29)

The key emerging theme throughout the rest of the book is the contrast in spiritual fidelity between the two kingdoms. Judah which vacillates between good and bad (faithful or unfaithful) kings with the kingdom of Israel which vacillates between bad and worse kings. 

The Role of Prophecy and the Key Figure of Elijah

Within the books of 1 Kings and 2 Kings, the prophets serve as a counterbalance to the kings. They call the kings to account for their actions and warn the kings and people of the impending punishment from God that is the consequence of sin. The prophets ratify their authority and display the power of God through many miracles. However, the primary goal of the prophets is to motivate the people to repentance and to worship of the one true God.   

Elijah is one of the most influential prophets in all of scripture. Elijah is a prophet sent to highlight the unfaithfulness of the Kingdom of Israel. He is the counterpoint to King Ahab and his wife Jezebel (two names you may recognize for their wickedness). Ahab was among the wickedest kings in the history of Israel. 

Elijah’s story is played out in 1 Kings chapter 17 through 2 Kings chapter 2 and this section of scripture is one of the most fascinating in all the bible. It is truly a must read which is highlighted by a series of miraculous works that signify God’s power through the prophets and make Elijah a figurehead for all the prophets.

Two events, Elijah’s battle with the prophets of Baal and Elijah’s flight to Mount Horeb are of particular significance. Elijah’s battle with the prophets of Baal is one of the clearest demonstrations of God’s power and uniqueness in all of scripture. It is also one of my favorite passages because of the colorful way in which it unfolds and the manner in which Elijah’s temperament and personality are revealed. Following this great victory, Elijah must flee to Mount Horeb (also called Sinai). In this episode, Elijah is clearly presented as another Moses. They both climbed the same mountain. Moses journeys for forty years while Elijah walks for 40 days. Moses receives the miraculous manna from heaven and water from the rock while Elijah receives a hearth cake and jug of water from an angel. Both learn God’s will on the mountain, and both hide in the cleft of a rock when God’s glory passes by. 

This connection between Moses and Elijah is significant in many ways and is intertwined with the expectation that Elijah will appear before the Christ comes. The prophet Malachi makes the explicit connection. 

“Remember the law of Moses my servant, whom I charged at Horeb

With statutes and ordinances for all Israel.

Now I am sending to you Elijah the prophet,

Before the day of the LORD comes, the great and terrible day;

He will turn the heart of fathers to their sons, and the heart of sons to their fathers,

Lest I come and strike the land with utter destruction.”

(Malachi 3:22-24)

However, the connection is also clear in other ways. For instance, Moses and Elijah appear together with Christ on the Mount of Transfiguration 

“And behold, two men were conversing with him, Moses and Elijah, who appeared in glory and spoke of his exodus”

(Luke 9:30-31)

This is because Christ came to fulfill both the Law and the Prophets and to initiate our exodus from the bondage of sin. 

Finally, Elijah will also introduce us to the next main character, his successor, Elisha. Elisha will do even greater things than Elijah. We will see in 2 Kings that Elisha will prefigure Christ himself.