Category Archives: 1 Kings

David 1-4 King David grew old. The years had caught up with him. Even though they piled blankets on him, he couldn’t keep warm. So his servants said to him, “We’re going to get a young virgin for our master the king to be at his side and look after him; she’ll get in bed […]

1-4 When David’s time to die approached, he charged his son Solomon, saying, “I’m about to go the way of all the earth, but you—be strong; show what you’re made of! Do whatGodtells you. Walk in the paths he shows you: Follow the life-map absolutely, keep an eye out for the signposts, his course for […]

1-3 Solomon arranged a marriage contract with Pharaoh, king of Egypt. He married Pharaoh’s daughter and brought her to the City of David until he had completed building his royal palace andGod’s Temple and the wall around Jerusalem. Meanwhile, the people were worshiping at local shrines because at that time no temple had yet been […]

1-2 King Solomon was off to a good start ruling Israel. These were the leaders in his government: 2-6 Azariah son of Zadok—the priest; Elihoreph and Ahijah, sons of Shisha—secretaries; Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud—historian; Benaiah son of Jehoiada—commander of the army; Zadok and Abiathar—priests; Azariah son of Nathan—in charge of the regional managers; Zabud son […]

International Fame 1-4 Hiram king of Tyre sent ambassadors to Solomon when he heard that he had been crowned king in David’s place. Hiram had loved David his whole life. Solomon responded, saying, “You know that David my father was not able to build a temple in honor ofGodbecause of the wars he had to […]

1-6 Four hundred and eighty years after the Israelites came out of Egypt, in the fourth year of Solomon’s rule over Israel, in the month of Ziv, the second month, Solomon started building The Temple ofGod. The Temple that King Solomon built toGodwas ninety feet long, thirty feet wide, and forty-five feet high. There was […]

1-5 It took Solomon another thirteen years to finish building his own palace complex. He built the Palace of the Forest of Lebanon a hundred and fifty feet long, seventy-five feet wide, and forty-five feet high. There were four rows of cedar columns supporting forty-five cedar beams, fifteen in each row, and then roofed with […]

1-2 Bringing all this to a climax, King Solomon called in the leaders of Israel, all the heads of the tribes and the family patriarchs, to bring up the Chest of the Covenant ofGodfrom Zion, the City of David. And they came, all Israel before King Solomon in the month of Ethanim, the seventh month, […]

1-2 After Solomon had completed building The Temple ofGodand his own palace, all the projects he had set his heart on doing,Godappeared to Solomon again, just as he had appeared to him at Gibeon. 3-5 AndGodsaid to him, “I’ve listened to and received all your prayers, your ever-so-passionate prayers. I’ve sanctified this Temple that you […]

The Queen of Sheba Visits 1-5 The queen of Sheba heard about Solomon and his connection with the Name ofGod. She came to put his reputation to the test by asking tough questions. She made a grand and showy entrance into Jerusalem—camels loaded with spices, a huge amount of gold, and precious gems. She came […]