1Kings - Revised Standard Version (1966)
The two Books of Kings were originally, like 1 Sam; 2 Sam - a single historical work. In conjunction with the Books of Samuel, they extend the consecutive history of Israel from the birth of Samuel to the destruction of Jerusalem in 587 B.C. This combined work is designed as a religious history; hence in Kings the temple, which is the chosen site for the worship of Yahweh, occupies the center of attention. The Books of Kings show clearly the theological bent of a Deuteronomic editor. In them, as already in Judges, material from various sources, such as the "book of the acts of Solomon" (1 Kings 11:41) and the "book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel" (1 Kings 14:19), is forged into structural unity by an editor whose principal interest is in the fidelity to Yahweh of rulers and people. The reigns of individual kings are adapted to an editorial framework consisting of a presentation and an obituary notice for each, in stereotyped formulas. In between, the achievements of the king are reported-above all, his fidelity or lack of fidelity to Yahweh. The faithful prosper; the unfaithful pay for their defections. Since this is basically a narrative of sin and retribution, it would not be inappropriate to entitle the Books of Kings "The Rise and Fall of the Israelite Monarchy." Without minimizing the complexity of the process by which this material was transmitted for many centuries, one may speak of two editions of the Books: the first at some time between 621 B.C. and 597 B.C., and the second, final edition during the Exile; probably shortly after Jehoiachin was released from his Babylonian prison (561 B.C.). 1 Kings carries the history of Israel from the last days and death of David to the accession in Samaria of Ahaziah, son of Ahab, near the end of the reign of Jehoshaphat, king of Judah. Judgment is passed on Ahaziah's reign but the details are given only later, in 2 Kings. We should note the two large cycles of traditions which grew up around the great prophetic figures of Elijah and Elisha, the former in 1 Kings and the latter chiefly in 2 Kings. These cycles, which interrupt the sequence of regnal chronicles, were very probably preserved and transmitted by the prophetic communities to which there are references in the same traditions. The Elijah cycle is the more important since it dramatically underscores Israel's critical struggle with the religion of Canaan. - The principal divisions of the Books of Kings are: I. The Reign of Solomon (1 Kings 1:1-11:43) II. Judah and Israel to the Time of Ahab (1 Kings 12:1-16:34) III. Stories of the Prophets (1 Kings 17:1-22:54) IV. The Kingdoms of Israel and Judah (2 Kings 1:1-17:41) V. The Kingdom of Judah after 721 B.C. (2 Kings 18:1-25:30) - (NAB)

Headings



FIRST BOOK OF KINGS


1 The Struggle for the Succession
The Accession of Solomon
2 David's Instruction to Solomon
Death of David
Solomon Consolidates His Reign
3 Solomon's Prayer for Wisdom
Solomon's Wisdom in Judgment
4 Solomon's Administrative Officers
Magnificence of Solomon's Rule
Fame of Solomon's Wisdom
5 Preparations and Materials for the Temple
6 Solomon Builds the Temple
The Furnishings of the Temple
7 Solomon's Palace and Other Buildings
Products of Hiram the Bronzeworker
8 Dedication of the Temple
Solomon's Speech
Solomon's Prayer of Dedication
Solomon Blesses the Assembly
Solomon Offers Sacrifices
9 God Appears Again to Solomon
Other Acts of Solomon
Solomon's Commercial Activity
10 Visit of the Queen of Sheba
11 Solomon's Errors
Adversaries of Solomon
Jeroboam's Rebellion
Death of Solomon
12 The Northern Tribes Secede
First Dynasty: Jeroboam Reigns over Israel
Jeroboam's Golden Calves
13 A Man of God from Judah
14 Judgment on the House of Jeroboam
Death of Jeroboam
Rehoboam Reigns over Judah
15 Abijam Reigns over Judah: Idolatry and War
Asa Reigns over Judah
Alliance with Aram against Israel
Nadab Reigns over Israel
Second Dynasty: Baasha Reigns over Israel
16 Elah Reigns over Israel
Third Dynasty: Zimri Reigns over Israel
Fourth Dynasty: Omri Reigns over Israel
Samaria the New Capital
Ahab Reigns over Israel
Ahab Marries Jezebel and Worships Baal
17 Elijah Predicts a Drought
The Widow of Zarephath
Elijah Revives the Widow's Son
18 Elijah's Message to Ahab
Elijah's Triumph over the Priests of Baal
The Drought Ends
19 Elijah Flees from Jezebel
Elijah Meets God at Horeb
Elisha Becomes Elijah's Disciple
20 Ahab's Wars with the Arameans
Prophetic Opposition to Ahab
The Arameans Are Defeated
A Prophet Condemns Ahab
21 Naboth's Vineyard
Elijah Pronounces God's Sentence
22 Joint Campaign with Judah against Aram
Micaiah Predicts Failure
Defeat and Death of Ahab
Jehoshaphat Reigns over Judah
Ahaziah Reigns over Israel

Version
Nova Vulgata - Latin
Biblia del Pueblo di Dio (BPD) - Spanish
Vulgata - Stuttgart 1969 - Latin
Bíblia Sagrada Ave-Maria (1957) - Portuguese
La Sainte Bible (Crampon 1904) - French
CEI (1974) - Italian
EinheitsÜbersetzung der Heiligen Sc - German