About this Bible Study........The King James Version of the Bible is written in a beautiful form of the English language. It can be hard for modern English readers to understand. In this study, you will find notes and summaries in brown just above the the verses from the Bible. We recommend that you read the notes and summaries first, and then read the verses in their KJV form.
The Books of 1 Kings and 2 Kings
The books of 1 Kings and 2 Kings were originally one book. They were probably
separated into 2 books so they would be easier to copy by hand.
1 Kings and 2 Kings were written 561 - 538 years before Jesus Christ was born. They cover
David's death,
the rule of David's son, Solomon, the kings after Solomon,
and the other groups of people who came and carried the Israelites away to other
countries.
The books were written for 2 reasons:
1. To review the history for the exiles (the Israelites who lived in other
countries).
2. To show the exiles why they were carried away.
Bible Timeline
Here is a good timeline to see the book of 1 Kings in the history of the Bible
http://www.sundayschoolresources.com/timeline.htm
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This is the altar in front of the tabernacle. The 4 horns were on the top of each corner. Adonijah escaped to the altar and took hold of the horns on the corners. He wanted Solomon to promise that he wouldn't kill him. |
From breadsite.org |
David said he was dying like everyone on earth
dies. He
told Solomon to be strong and a good man.
[2] I go the way of all the earth: be thou strong therefore, and shew thyself
a man;
He told Solomon to obey the laws that God gave to
Moses. If he obeys God, he will be successful in everything he does and
everywhere he goes.
[3] And keep the charge of the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, to keep his
statutes, and his commandments, and his judgments, and his testimonies, as it
is written in the law of Moses, that thou mayest prosper in all that thou
doest, and whithersoever thou turnest thyself:
If Solomon and his children obey God
with all of their hearts and souls, there will always be one of their
descendants on the throne as king. God made that promise to David.
[4] That the LORD may continue his word which he spake concerning me, saying,
If thy children take heed to their way, to walk before me in truth with all
their heart and with all their soul, there shall not fail thee (said he) a man
on the throne of Israel.
David talked about Joab. Joab was his sister Zeruiah's son. He talked about some of the
bad things that Joab did. Joab killed David's son Absalom and 2 of David's leaders. He killed Abner
(his father's name was Ner) and Amasa (his father's name was Jether). He
killed them, but it wasn't in a war. Their
blood was on his clothes and in his shoes.
[5] Moreover thou knowest also what Joab the son of Zeruiah did to me, and
what he did to the two captains of the hosts of Israel, unto Abner the son of
Ner, and unto Amasa the son of Jether, whom he slew, and shed the blood of war
in peace, and put the blood of war upon his girdle that was about his loins,
and in his shoes that were on his feet.
Solomon should decide how to punish Joab, but Joab should
not die in peace.
[6] Do therefore according to thy wisdom, and let not his hoar head go down to
the grave in peace.
Solomon should be good to the man named Barzillai
from the area of Gilead. Barzillai and his family should eat with Solomon
because he helped David. He helped David when David was running away from
Absalom.
[7] But shew kindness unto the sons of Barzillai the Gileadite, and let them
be of those that eat at thy table: for so they came to me when I fled because
of Absalom thy brother.
David also talked to
Solomon about Shimei (his father's name was Gera). He was
from the tribe of Benjamin in the area of Bahurim. When David was in the
town of Mahanaim running away from Absalom, Shimei was yelling bad words at
David. But later when he was going back to Jerusalem, Shimei came to meet David by the Jordan River. David promised that he would not kill him.
But Solomon should not think of him as an innocent man. David said that
Solomon should kill Shimei. Shimei should not die by natural causes.
[8] And, behold, thou hast with thee Shimei the son of Gera, a Benjamite of
Bahurim, which cursed me with a grievous curse in the day when I went to
Mahanaim: but he came down to meet me at Jordan, and I sware to him by the
LORD, saying, I will not put thee to death with the sword.
[9] Now therefore hold him not guiltless: for thou art a wise man, and knowest
what thou oughtest to do unto him; but his hoar head bring thou down to the
grave with blood.
No one knows the exact place where David
was buried. For more information about this, please visit this web site:
http://www.bible-history.com/sketches/ancient/tomb-david.html
Another interesting web site about David's
palace is:
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David died. He was buried in Jerusalem.
[10] So David slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David.
David was king for 40 years. He was king for 7 years
in the city of Hebron, and he was king for 33 yeas in the city of Jerusalem.
[11] And the days that David reigned over Israel were forty years: seven years
reigned he in Hebron, and thirty and three years reigned he in Jerusalem.
Solomon was Israel's king and he sat on David's throne (king's chair).
His kingdom was great.
[12] Then sat Solomon upon the throne of David his father; and his kingdom was
established greatly.
Adonijah asks to marry Abishag.
Solomon's brother, Adonijah came to talk to Solomon's mother, Bath-sheba.
She asked Adonijah if he was coming in peace. He said yes. He wanted to
talk to her. She told him to go ahead.
[13] And Adonijah the son of Haggith came to Bath-sheba the mother of Solomon.
And she said, Comest thou peaceably? And he said, Peaceably.
[14] He said moreover, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And she said, Say on.
Adonijah said that Bath-sheba knew he was king for a
short time. Many of the Israelites supported him to be king. But it was
God's will for Solomon to be the king, and now he is the king.
[15] And he said, Thou knowest that the kingdom was mine, and that all Israel
set their faces on me, that I should reign: howbeit the kingdom is turned
about, and is become my brother's: for it was his from the LORD.
Now he wants to ask Bath-sheba a question. She told
him to ask.
[16] And now I ask one petition of thee, deny me not. And she said unto him,
Say on.
Abishag was the woman from the area named Shunem. She took care of David before he died. |
Adonijah wanted to marry Abishag.
He wanted Bath-sheba to ask Solomn if he can marry her.
[17] And he said, Speak, I pray thee, unto Solomon the king, (for he will not
say thee nay,) that he give me Abishag the Shunammite to wife.
Bath-sheba said she would talk to Solomon for him.
[18] And Bath-sheba said, Well; I will speak for thee unto the king.
Bath-sheba went to talk to Solomon. Solomon
bowed down to Bath-sheba. Then he sat on the throne. He had a chair on his right
side for Bath-sheba.
[19] Bath-sheba therefore went unto king Solomon, to speak unto him for
Adonijah. And the king rose up to meet her, and bowed himself unto her, and
sat down on his throne, and caused a seat to be set for the king's mother; and
she sat on his right hand.
Bath-sheba said she wanted to ask Solomon something.
She asked him not to say no. Solomon told her to go ahead. He said he would
not say no.
[20] Then she said, I desire one small petition of thee; I pray thee, say me
not nay. And the king said unto her, Ask on, my mother: for I will not say
thee nay.
Bath-sheba asked Solomon if Adonijah
could marry Abishag.
[21] And she said, Let Abishag the Shunammite be given to Adonijah thy brother
to wife.
King Solomon asked his mother why she was asking this
for Adonijah. He said she might as well have asked for Adonijah to be king.
He is older than Solomon. Abiathar the priest, and Joab both supported Adonijah.
[22] And king Solomon answered and said unto his mother, And why dost thou ask
Abishag the Shunammite for Adonijah? ask for him the kingdom also; for he is
mine elder brother; even for him, and for Abiathar the priest, and for Joab
the son of Zeruiah.
Solomon swore in God's name that Adonijah was wrong
to ask for Abishag. He said that God promised David that he would be the king.
Now he is the king. He says that now Adonijah will be killed.
[23] Then king Solomon sware by the LORD, saying, God do so to me, and more
also, if Adonijah have not spoken this word against his own life.
[24] Now therefore, as the LORD liveth, which hath established me, and set me
on the throne of David my father, and who hath made me an house, as he
promised, Adonijah shall be put to death this day.
Solomon sent Benaiah to Adonijah. Benaiah killed him.
[25] And king Solomon sent by the hand of Benaiah the son of Jehoiada; and he
fell upon him that he died.
Abiathar is sent away and will not be a priest anymore.
Solomon told Abiathar to leave and go
to the place named Anathoth (city where many priests lived). Solomon said
Abiathar should be killed, but he won't kill him now. He won't kill him
because Abiathar was with David when David was running away from Absalom.
Abiathar once carried the Ark in front of David.
[26] And unto Abiathar the priest said the king, Get thee to Anathoth, unto
thine own fields; for thou art worthy of death: but I will not at this time
put thee to death, because thou barest the ark of the Lord GOD before David my
father, and because thou hast been afflicted in all wherein my father was
afflicted.
Abithar left, and he was not a priest anymore.
This proved God's word from back in the book of 1 Samuel. That is when God punished Eli
and his sons for their sins (God said that none of Eli's descendants would
live long lives).
[27] So Solomon thrust out Abiathar from being priest unto the LORD; that he
might fulfil the word of the LORD, which he spake concerning the house of Eli
in Shiloh.
Joab is punished for his sins.
Joab also had supported Adonijah. But in the past, he
did not support Absalom. Joab ran away to the tabernacle. He took hold of the
horns on the altar.
[28] Then tidings came to Joab: for Joab had turned after Adonijah, though he
turned not after Absalom. And Joab fled unto the tabernacle of the LORD, and
caught hold on the horns of the altar.
Someone told Solomon that Joab was in the Lord's
tabernacle. He was by the altar. Solomon told Benaiah to go and kill him.
[29] And it was told king Solomon that Joab was fled unto the tabernacle of
the LORD; and, behold, he is by the altar. Then Solomon sent Benaiah the son
of Jehoiada, saying, Go, fall upon him.
Benaiah went to the Lord's tabernacle. He told Joab
that Solomon said he should leave. Joab said no. He will die in the
tabernacle.
[30] And Benaiah came to the tabernacle of the LORD, and said unto him, Thus
saith the king, Come forth. And he said, Nay; but I will die here.
Benaiah went back and told Solomon what Joab said.
And Benaiah
brought the king word again, saying, Thus said Joab, and thus he answered me.
Solomon said that Benaiah should do what Joab said. He should kill him in
the tabernacle. Then he should bury him. That is punishment for Joab killing
Abner and Amasa who were innocent. If Benaiah kills Joab, then David's family
will no longer be guilty for not punishing Joab.
[31] And the king said unto him, Do as he hath said, and fall upon him, and
bury him; that thou mayest take away the innocent blood, which Joab shed, from
me, and from the house of my father.
Joab killed 2 men who were good men. They were better than
he was. He killed them both with his sword. David didn't know he was
planning to do that. Joab killed Abner (his father's name was Ner). Abner was
the leader of Israel's army. He also killed Amasa (his father's name was
Jether). Amasa was the leader of Judah's army. Now Joab will be killed.
[32] And the LORD shall return his blood upon his own head, who fell upon two
men more righteous and better than he, and slew them with the sword, my father
David not knowing thereof, to wit, Abner the son of Ner, captain of the host
of Israel, and Amasa the son of Jether, captain of the host of Judah.
Joab will be punished for killing Abner and Amasa.
His children, grandchildren, and descendants will be punished forever. But
David, his descendants, and his kingdom will have God's peace.
[33] Their blood shall therefore return upon the head of Joab, and upon the
head of his seed for ever: but upon David, and upon his seed, and upon his
house, and upon his throne, shall there be peace for ever from the LORD.
Benaiah went to the tabernacle and killed Joab. Joab
was buried near his home in the wilderness (desert).
[34] So Benaiah the son of Jehoiada went up, and fell upon him, and slew him:
and he was buried in his own house in the wilderness.
Solomon made Benaiah the leader of the army. This was Joab's
old job. He made Zadok the priest after he sent Abiathar away.
[35] And the king put Benaiah the son of Jehoiada in his room over the host:
and Zadok the priest did the king put in the room of Abiathar.
Shimei was from the tribe of Benjamin.
Saul was also from the tribe of Benjamin. Shimei was angry at David
because David replaced Saul as the king of Israel. David was not from
the tribe of Benjamin. He was from the tribe of Judah.
Back in 2 Samuel 16, David and Absalom were
having a war. David was escaping Jerusalem. Shimei stood by the road and
threw rocks at David. He also yelled bad things at him. |
Solomon punishes Shimei.
Solomon asked Shimei to come and see him. He
told Shimei to build a house in Jerusalem. He should stay there and not leave.
If he leaves and crosses over the Kidron brook (creek), he will die. It will
be his own fault.
[36] And the king sent and called for Shimei, and said unto him, Build thee an
house in Jerusalem, and dwell there, and go not forth thence any whither.
[37] For it shall be, that on the day thou goest out, and passest over the
brook Kidron, thou shalt know for certain that thou shalt surely die: thy
blood shall be upon thine own head.
Shimei said he will obey Solomon. He stayed in
Jerusalem for a long time.
[38] And Shimei said unto the king, The saying is good: as my lord the king
hath said, so will thy servant do. And Shimei dwelt in Jerusalem many days.
After 3 years, 2 of Shimei's workers ran away from
him. They went to the area named Gath. The king of Gath was Achish (his
father's name was Maachah). Someone told Shimei that his workers were in Gath.
[39] And it came to pass at the end of three years, that two of the servants
of Shimei ran away unto Achish son of Maachah king of Gath. And they told
Shimei, saying, Behold, thy servants be in Gath.
Shimei got up and put a saddle on his donkey. He went
to Gath to look for his workers. Shimei found his workers and took them home.
[40] And Shimei arose, and saddled his ass, and went to Gath to Achish to seek
his servants: and Shimei went, and brought his servants from Gath.
Someone told Solomon that Shimei had gone to Gath and
was back home again. Solomon asked Shimei to come see him. Solomon
reminded him that he promised to stay in Jerusalem. He promised that if he
left Jerusalem, he will die. Shimei said yes he had promised that.
[41] And it was told Solomon that Shimei had gone from Jerusalem to Gath, and
was come again.
[42] And the king sent and called for Shimei, and said unto him, Did I not
make thee to swear by the LORD, and protested unto thee, saying, Know for a
certain, on the day thou goest out, and walkest abroad any wither, that thou
shalt surely die? and thou saidst unto me, The word that I have heard is good.
Solomon asked him why he did not keep his promise.
[43] Why then hast thou not kept the oath of the LORD, and the commandment
that I have charged thee with?
Solomon reminded Shimei of the bad things he did to
David. Now God will punish him.
[44] The king said moreover to Shimei, Thou knowest all the wickedness which
thine heart is privy to, that thou didst to David my father: therefore the
LORD shall return thy wickedness upon thine own head;
God will bless King Solomon. David's descendants will
be king forever.
[45] And king Solomon shall be blessed, and the throne of David shall be
established before the LORD for ever.
Solomon told Benaiah (his father was named Jehoida) to go kill Shimei. Shimei
died.
Now, Solomon had killed the men who had caused
trouble for his father. He was now in control of Israel.
[46] So the king commanded Benaiah the son of Jehoiada; which went out, and
fell upon him, that he died. And the kingdom was established in the hand of
Solomon.
Pharaoh was the name of any king of Egypt. This Pharaoh was not the same man who was in control when the Israelites left Egypt many years before. |
[1] And Solomon made affinity with Pharaoh king of Egypt, and took Pharaoh's
daughter, and brought her into the city of David, until he had made an end of
building his own house, and the house of the LORD, and the wall of Jerusalem
round about.
At that time, there was no permanent Lord's house in Israel. People sacrificed in
other places, like hills.
[2] Only the people sacrificed in high places, because there was no house
built unto the name of the LORD, until those days.
Solomon loved God. He obeyed God's laws like his
father, David, did. He made sacrifices and burned incense in the high places.
[3] And Solomon loved the LORD, walking in the statutes of David his father:
only he sacrificed and burnt incense in high places.
Solomon went to the city of Gibeon to make a
sacrifice. Gibeon was a special high place because the tabernacle was there.
Solomon made 1,000 burnt offerings at Gibeon.
[4] And the king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there; for that was the great
high place: a thousand burnt offerings did Solomon offer upon that altar.
One night, Solomon was in Gibeon. God talked to
Solomon in a dream. God told Solomon that He would give him anything
he asked.
[5] In Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night: and God said,
Ask what I shall give thee.
Solomon said that God showed David
great mercy. David was a good man who obeyed God's laws. God gave David a son
to be the new king.
[6] And Solomon said, Thou hast shewed unto thy servant David my father great
mercy, according as he walked before thee in truth, and in righteousness, and
in uprightness of heart with thee; and thou hast kept for him this great
kindness, that thou hast given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this
day.
Solomon said that God has now made him the king in
David's place. But he feels that he does not know what to do.
[7] And now, O LORD my God, thou hast made thy servant king instead of David
my father: and I am but a little child: I know not how to go out or come in.
Solomon said that he is in the middle of God's
people. God chose the Israelites. There are many Israelites. There are too
many to count.
[8] And thy servant is in the midst of thy people which thou hast chosen, a
great people, that cannot be numbered nor counted for multitude.
Solomon prayed to God and asked him to give him
wisdom (make him smart). He wanted wisdom so he would be a good judge. He
would know what was good and bad. He said no man was smart enough to judge so
many people.
[9] 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?
God was happy about what Solomon said.
[10] And the speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing.
God said that Solomon asked for wisdom. He did not
ask for a long life or for a lot of money. He did not ask for his enemies to
die. He asked for wisdom to be a good judge.
[11] And God said unto him, Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not
asked for thyself long life; neither hast asked riches for thyself, nor hast
asked the life of thine enemies; but hast asked for thyself understanding to
discern judgment;
God said He did what Solomon asked. He gave
Solomon wisdom. No one before him was as smart, and no one later will be as
smart.
[12] Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise
and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee,
neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee.
God said He has also given Solomon the things he did
not ask for--a lot of money and honor. He will be the greatest king in the
world. If Solomon will obey God's laws like David did, God will give
Solomon a long life.
[13] And I have also given thee that which thou hast not asked, both riches,
and honour: so that there shall not be any among the kings like unto thee all
thy days.
[14] And if thou wilt walk in my ways, to keep my statutes and my
commandments, as thy father David did walk, then I will lengthen thy days.
Solomon woke up. He knew he had a dream. He went to
Jerusalem. He stood in front of the Ark (box containing the laws from God). He
made burnt offerings and peace offerings. Then he had a big dinner for all of
his workers.
[15] And Solomon awoke; and, behold, it was a dream. And he came to Jerusalem,
and stood before the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and offered up burnt
offerings, and offered peace offerings, and made a feast to all his servants.
Solomon must judge between two women about a baby.
Two women came to see Solomon. The first woman told
Solomon that she and the second woman lived in the same house. The first woman
had a baby, then three days later, the second woman had a baby. No one
else was in the house.
[16] Then came there two women, that were harlots, unto the king, and stood
before him.
[17] And the one woman said, O my lord, I and this woman dwell in one house;
and I was delivered of a child with her in the house.
[18] And it came to pass the third day after that I was delivered, that this
woman was delivered also: and we were together; there was no stranger with us
in the house, save we two in the house.
The first woman said that the second woman laid on
her baby at night. She said the second woman's baby died. She said the second
woman came and took the first woman's baby. She put the dead baby in the first
woman's bed.
[19] And this woman's child died in the night; because she overlaid it.
[20] And she arose at midnight, and took my son from beside me, while thine
handmaid slept, and laid it in her bosom, and laid her dead child in my bosom.
The first woman said when she woke up to feed her
baby, the baby was dead. She said she looked at the baby and saw it was not
her baby.
[21] And when I rose in the morning to give my child suck, behold, it was
dead: but when I had considered it in the morning, behold, it was not my son,
which I did bear.
The second woman said no. She said that the living baby was her
baby. She said the dead baby was the first woman's baby. The first woman
said the living baby was her baby. They each told Solomon that the
living baby belonged to her.
[22] And the other woman said, Nay; but the living is my son, and the dead is
thy son. And this said, No; but the dead is thy son, and the living is my son.
Thus they spake before the king.
Solomon said that each woman claims the living baby.
[23] Then said the king, The one saith, This is my son that liveth, and thy
son is the dead: and the other saith, Nay; but thy son is the dead, and my son
is the living.
Solomon told his helper to go and get a sword. He
said he would cut the baby into two parts. Each woman could have half.
[24] And the king said, Bring me a sword. And they brought a sword before the
king.
[25] And the king said, Divide the living child in two, and give half to the
one, and half to the other.
But the real mother said no. She told Solomon to give
the baby to the other woman. She didn't want him to divide the baby.
[26] Then spake the woman whose the living child was unto the king, for her
bowels yearned upon her son, and she said, O my lord, give her the living
child, and in no wise slay it. But the other said, Let it be neither mine nor
thine, but divide it.
Solomon told his workers to give that woman the baby.
He knew she was the real mother because she didn't want him to kill it.
[27] Then the king answered and said, Give her the living child, and in no
wise slay it: she is the mother thereof.
All of the people in Israel heard about this. They
respected Solomon. They knew that God gave him wisdom to be a good judge.
[28] And all Israel heard of the judgment which the king had judged; and they
feared the king: for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him, to do
judgment.