Scripture Readings - I Kings

I Kings (III Kingdoms)

I Kings is mostly read at Vespers.

Like the two books of Samuel, the books of 1 and 2 Kings (known in Orthodox Bibles as 3 and 4 Kingdoms) were originally one book.

First Kings begins with the enthronement of Solomon and the death of David (Ch. 1–2), followed by an account of Solomon’s reign (Ch. 3–11). It then continues with the history of the Divided Monarchy: the Southern Kingdom of Judah, with Jerusalem as its capital, and the Northern Kingdom of Israel, with Samaria as its capital. The book traces their history through the reigns of Ahab of Israel and Jehoshaphat of Judah (Ch. 12–22). It is also here that we encounter the dramatic ministry of the Prophet Elijah (1 Kings 17–2 Kings 2).

The primary purpose of the books of Kings is to explain the causes of the eventual Fall of the Kingdoms. The catastrophes of 721 B.C., when Samaria fell, and 587 B.C., when Jerusalem fell, are presented as just consequences of the unfaithfulness of the majority of the kings of both the Northern and Southern Kingdoms. They failed to maintain the worship of the one true God and to observe the unity of the Sanctuary in Jerusalem as required by the Law.

Israel, rather than God, had been unfaithful to the Sinai Covenant. If Israel was to fulfill again the mission God had given her, she would need to repent and place her future in God’s unwavering faithfulness and steadfast love.