King James Bible - Old Testament 1 Kings

David grew old and his servants brought him a young virgin, but he would not sleep with her. Adonijah claimed that he would be king and snubbed Nathan. David warned Bath-Sheba to look out for Solomon's rights. He swore that Solomon would rule and had a priest anoint him with Nathan. As David neared death, he asked Solomon to keep the ways of the Lord. Adonijah angered Solomon and ended up being killed by one of his friends. God came to Solomon and asked him what he wished for. Solomon answered,

"and I am but a little child: I know not how to go out or come in. And thy servant is in the midst of thy people, which thou has chosen, a great people, that cannot be numbered or counted for multitude. Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?" 1 Kings, 3:7-9

Pleased with this request, God granted Solomon wisdom. Harlots came to him who had both given birth at the same time. One of their children had died and now both were claiming the living child. Solomon told them to cut the child in half and he saw the real mother because she was not willing to do this. He ruled fairly over the people and planned to build a house for God. They built a great foundation. He made elaborately decorated walls. Gold candlesticks were forged. The Ark of the Covenant was brought into the Temple. Solomon repeated the laws of the covenant and prayed for God to be with them. God promised to honor his prayer if the people kept the commandments. The Pharaoh of Egypt gave Solomon his daughter. The Queen of Sheba gave him a great amount of gold and he built a navy. He loved many women and had a multitude of wives and concubines. When Solomon was old, the people began to worship other gods. God told Solomon that He would take the kingdom away from him.

Jeroboam turned against Solomon and the king died after ruling for forty years. Solomon's son wanted to be king but Jeroboam announced that the house of David had sinned in the eyes of God. He announced that Solomon's son would be king of Judah and he would rule the rest of Israel. Following Solomon there were a series of sinful kings in Israel and Judah

A man came out of Judah and collapsed at the altar speaking of a future child from the house of David. The man told Jeroboam that he had been told to neither eat nor drink. When a priest tricked the man into eating, a lion appeared and devoured him. Jeroboam reigned for twenty-two years. In his 18th year another man took over in Judah but sinned and died. A man named Asa ruled in Judah and did well in the eyes of God. Baashar ruled in Israel for many years and Jehosophat ruled in Judah.

In Asa's thirty-ninth year as king, Israel was split again by civil war, Ahab united the kingdom, but was sinful. A prophet named Elijah announced to Ahab, "there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word." 1 Kings: 17:1 God led Elijah away and fed him. He asked a widow for food and drink and she was willing to share what little she had. Her son got sick and Elijah healed him. The kingdoms of Israel and Judah continued to be ruled separately.

A drought lasted for three years and Ahab went looking for grass with Obadiah. Elijah met Obadiah and sent him to announce his coming to Ahab. Meanwhile, Elijah gathered all the prophets of Baal at Mt. Carmel and performed a test sacrifice to Baal. He asked for a sign from the god, but nothing happened. Then he built an altar to God and made a sacrifice. God's fire came down. Elijah had all the prophets of Baal killed to show the people which deity to worship. After this, God sent him against Ahab.

Ahab told his wife Jezebel what happened and she pretended to give herself up to God and abandon Baal. God sent an earthquake and then sent Elijah to raise Jehu as king. While Elijah raised support for Jehu, Ahab dealt with a new Syrian threat. He defeated Syrian hordes because they were drunk. He also defeated subsequent armies.

Ahab asked for a vineyard from another man who refused him. Jezebel told him that she would get it for him. She had the man framed for blasphemy and Ahab got the vineyard. God sent Elijah to Ahab to tell him that Jezebel was to be eaten by dogs. Ahab humbled himself before God and God gave him more time. Jehosophat, king of Judah, still separate from Israel, allied with Ahab to fight the Syrians. Ahab received ill omens from prophets and, as a result, he sent one of them to prison. He entered the battle in disguise and died. His son, Ahaziah, followed him as ruler. Ahaziah worshiped Baal.

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