David's death draws near. David's son Adonijah conspires to make himself king, but when David learns of it, he confirms Solomon as his successor. Adonijah begs for mercy from Solomon, who grants it.

As David grows old, he becomes unable to keep warm, so his advisers find a beautiful young woman to keep him warm.

Adonijah, a half brother of Solomon, attempts to crown himself king in his father's place. He is helped by Joab and Abiathar the priest, and he invites most of the royal officials and David's sons to attend a sacrifice at En-rogel.

Nathan hears of Adonijah's plan and works to ensure that Solomon will become the next king.

Nathan instructs Solomon's mother, Bathsheba, to report Adonijah's behavior to David, reminding the dying king that he has already promised his throne to Solomon.

As planned, Nathan comes in just as Bathsheba is finishing talking with David, and he tells David the same thing that she has told him.

David reassures Nathan and Bathsheba that Solomon will indeed be Israel's next king.

Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet are to anoint Solomon, place him on David's mule, blow trumpets, and shout, "Long live King Solomon!"

The high priest does exactly what David instructed, causing a great celebration among the people of Jerusalem.

When Adonijah learns that Solomon is the new king, he seeks refuge at the altar of the sacred tent. He asks for mercy from Solomon, who grants it as long as Adonijah remains loyal to him.

David delivers a charge to Solomon and dies. Solomon executes Adonijah after he makes a request. For supporting Adonijah as king, Abiathar is deposed as priest but not killed. Joab seeks asylum but is put to death. Shimei is killed for disobeying Solomon's orders to remain in Jerusalem.

David, whose death is near, speaks his final words to Solomon, the new king.

David urges Solomon to obey the Lord's commands written in the Law of Moses.

David leaves instructions for Solomon to carry out after David's death.

David dies after ruling Israel for 40 years. He is buried in the City of David. Solomon becomes king.

Adonijah desires to marry Abishag, David's former attendant, so he persuades Bathsheba to ask Solomon for this favor.

Solomon is incensed at such a request, so he orders Adonijah to be put to death!

Solomon deposes Abiathar as priest because he supported Adonijah as king, but Solomon does not kill him.

Solomon orders Joab to be executed for brutally murdering Abner and Amasa.

Solomon allows Shimei to live peacefully in Jerusalem but warns that he will be executed if he leaves the city. Shimei agrees, but three years later he leaves the city to retrieve two runaway slaves.

Upon Shimei's return, Solomon has him executed.

Solomon marries one of Pharaoh's daughters. When the Lord offers Solomon anything he wants, he chooses wisdom and manifests it in a dispute between two prostitutes. The officials of Solomon's government are listed. The nation enjoys peace, and Solomon's fame spreads to the surrounding nations.

As Solomon's power increases and his building projects take shape, he forms an alliance with Pharaoh and marries one of his daughters.

After Solomon sacrifices 1,000 burnt offerings, the Lord appears to him in a dream that night.

The Lord promises to give Solomon anything he asks for.

Solomon asks for wisdom that he might govern justly.

God is pleased with Solomon's choice and promises to give him wisdom plus riches and honor!

Two prostitutes gave birth to sons, but one of the babies died. One mother claims that the other mother switched babies and gave her the dead child.

Solomon proposes to cut the baby in two, giving half to each mother!

One mother agrees, but the other cries out in protest and is willing to give up the infant that he might live.

Solomon awards the baby to the woman who protested, concluding that she is the real mother. News of Solomon's wisdom spreads throughout Israel.

The kingdom of Israel increases and prospers greatly under Solomon's reign.

Solomon rules over all the land from the Euphrates River to the land of the Philistines to the borders of Egypt.

Each district governor is responsible for providing food for Solomon's palace for one month of every year.

Throughout Solomon's reign, the land of Israel enjoys peace and prosperity.

Solomon has thousands of horses and chariots.

Solomon is wiser than all the wise men of the east, including those in Egypt and the surrounding nations.

Solomon gathers supplies and constructs a magnificent Temple for the Lord. He also constructs a palace for himself and supplies furnishings for the Temple.

He asks Hiram, king of Tyre, to furnish cedar logs for the Temple.

Hiram agrees; in return, he receives wheat and olive oil from Israel.

Solomon conscripts thousands of stonecutters and carpenters to travel to Lebanon and prepare materials for the Temple.

Construction begins during the fourth year of Solomon's reign, 480 years after Israel's exodus from Egypt.

The Temple is finished seven years later.

It is 90 feet long, 30 feet wide, and 45 feet high.

A description is given of the Temple's various rooms and staircases.

A description is given of the elaborate decorations and paneling of the Temple's interior.

The Lord assures Solomon that he will continue to live among his people if they obey his commands.

A skilled craftsman from the tribe of Naphtali fashions the gold and bronze furnishings.

Solomon also builds a palace for himself.

The palace took 13 years to construct.

Solomon's magnificent palace has many great rooms. One of the buildings, the Palace of the Forest of Lebanon, measures 150 feet long, 75 feet wide, 45 feet high, and is constructed almost entirely of cedar! Another room, the Hall of Pillars, measures 75 feet long by 45 feet wide.

After the Ark is transferred to the Temple, Solomon blesses the people and dedicates the Temple.

Solomon gathers all of Israel's leaders to witness the placing of the Ark in the Temple.

When the priests withdraw from the inner sanctuary, the glorious presence of the Lord fills the Temple.

Solomon blesses the people and delivers a message.

David wanted to build a temple for the Lord, but Solomon is chosen to build it.

Solomon prays, asking God for several things:

With outstretched arms, Solomon praises the Lord and blesses the people, calling upon the Lord to help them obey his laws.

Solomon and the people complete the dedication of the Temple by sacrificing 22,000 oxen and 120,000 sheep! Then they celebrate the Festival of Shelters.

The Lord responds to Solomon's prayer. Hiram is displeased with the towns that Solomon gave him as payment for the Temple materials. Solomon's triumphs and treasures are described. The queen of Sheba admires Solomon's wealth, wisdom, and fame.

If Solomon continues to obey the Lord, the Lord will make his dynasty secure, just as he promised David.

If the people disobey and forsake the Lord, he will send two punishments upon them:

King Hiram is displeased with the 20 cities of Galilee that Solomon gave him as payment for his cedar, cypress, and gold.

Solomon's many building projects include the Temple, the royal palace, the Millo, the wall of Jerusalem, the cities of Hazor, Megiddo, and Gezer, and various cities for storing grain and military equipment.

Solomon conscripts labor forces from the survivors of the nations he conquers.

Three times a year Solomon sacrifices burnt offerings and peace offerings in the Temple.

The Lord's marvelous gift of wisdom to Solomon is witnessed by the queen of Sheba during her visit to Jerusalem.

The queen is determined to test Solomon's famed wisdom by asking him many difficult questions. Solomon wisely answers all her questions.

The queen is overwhelmed by Solomon's incredible wisdom and the glory of his kingdom.

Solomon's vast wealth came from several sources, including:

As treasures flow into the royal coffers, Solomon's kingdom reflects his great wealth.

Solomon allows his many wives and concubines to lead him into idolatry. The Lord raises up enemies against Solomon. A prophet tells Jeroboam, one of Solomon's leaders, that 10 of the northern tribes will be taken from Solomon and given to him. Solomon dies and is buried.

Contrary to God's commands (Deut. 17:17), Solomon has 700 wives and 300 concubines!

Solomon's pagan wives lead his heart astray, and he worships their idols.

The Lord is angry and promises to tear the kingdom away from Solomon and give it to one of his servants. But for David's sake, the Lord reserves this punishment until after Solomon dies, and even then his son still reigns over one tribe.

Prior to his rebellion, Jeroboam is a capable Ephraimite serving as one of Solomon's workforce leaders.

A prophet named Ahijah tells Jeroboam that the kingdom will be torn away from Solomon and given to him.

One day as Jeroboam leaves Jerusalem, Ahijah takes a new cloak and tears it into 12 pieces, giving Jeroboam 10 pieces.

The prophet tells Jeroboam that the Lord will soon make him ruler over 10 of Israel's tribes because of Solomon's many sins! Jeroboam flees to Egypt to escape Solomon's anger.

The Lord also allows foreign enemies to trouble King Solomon's reign.

This Edomite sought asylum in Egypt after David's men killed most of the men in Edom. During Solomon's reign, he returns from Egypt and becomes a threat to Solomon.

Like Hadad, Rezon fled from David and became a bitter enemy of Israel. During Solomon's reign, Rezon rules in Damascus and causes trouble for Solomon.

Rehoboam succeeds his father, Solomon, as king. After Rehoboam makes a poor decision to rule harshly, Jeroboam rebels against Rehoboam and rules the 10 northern tribes. An immediate war between the two kingdoms is avoided. Jeroboam institutes idol worship at Dan and Bethel.

Before his coronation, Rehoboam is urged by the leaders of 10 of Israel's tribes to lessen the hardships placed upon them by King Solomon.

Rehoboam's older counselors, who had advised Solomon, recommend that he assure the tribes that there will be change for the good.

Rehoboam's younger, inexperienced friends from childhood urge him to threaten the tribes with even harsher rule.

Rehoboam rejects the counsel of the older men and follows the advice of his friends.

The 10 tribes denounce Rehoboam and form their own nation, with Jeroboam as their king.

Rehoboam gathers an army of 180,000 troops to crush the rebellion, but a prophet named Shemaiah warns him not to fight against the northern kingdom.

After the 10 northern tribes revolt, they make Jeroboam their leader.

He does it to keep his people from returning to Jerusalem and sacrificing in the Temple.

As Jeroboam offers a sacrifice on his pagan altar at Bethel, a man of God foretells that one day a future king will defile this altar by burning on it the bones of the very priests who are sacrificing upon it!

As proof that the predicted event will happen, the man of God states that the false altar will split apart, and its ashes will be poured out on the ground. This happens, just as the man of God foretold.

When Jeroboam hears this, he reaches out his hand and orders that the man be seized, but Jeroboam's hand becomes paralyzed!

At the king's urging, the man of God prays to the Lord, who restores the king's hand.

Jeroboam offers to reward the man of God and invites him to the palace; the man refuses, for God has forbidden him to eat or drink anything in Bethel.

En route back to his home, the man of God is met by an old prophet, who tells him that an angel wants him to come home with him and share a meal. The old prophet is lying, but the man of God goes home and eats with him.

As the man of God eats with the prophet, the Lord sends a message to him through the prophet. The Lord rebukes him for his disobedience and tells him that his body will not be buried in the grave of his ancestors.

The man of God eats and then leaves on a donkey, but along the way he is killed by a lion.

When the older prophet hears that the man of God has been killed, he retrieves the body and mourns for him. He instructs his sons to bury him beside the man of God, for his message is certainly true.

Ahijah pronounces doom on Jeroboam's family. Jeroboam dies, and Nadab becomes king of Israel. After leading Judah into idolatry, King Rehoboam dies, and Abijam becomes king. Asa succeeds Abijam and begins many reforms. Baasha assassinates Nadab and becomes king of Israel. There is constant war between Israel and Judah.

The final days of Jeroboam's reign are recorded.

Jeroboam instructs his wife to disguise herself and find out from Ahijah the prophet if their sick son will recover.

Before the queen arrives, the Lord informs Ahijah, who is old and almost blind, who his coming visitor is.

Ahijah tells Jeroboam's wife of coming judgment for Jeroboam's evil.

Because Jeroboam promotes idolatry in Israel, his sick son will die along with all his other sons.

The Lord will cause the northern kingdom of Israel to be taken into captivity.

Jeroboam dies after a reign of 22 years. His son Nadab becomes king.

The final days of Rehoboam's reign are recorded.

Rehoboam allows idolatry to flourish throughout Judah.

King Shishak of Egypt captures Jerusalem and steals the treasures of the Temple and the royal palace.

During Abijam's reign there is constant war between Israel and Judah.

Asa initiates great reforms throughout Judah, removing the idols and even deposing his own grandmother for her pagan practices!

Asa wages constant war against Baasha of Israel and reestablishes a treaty with the king of Aram to defeat Israel.

King Nadab commits the same idolatrous sins that Jeroboam committed. After two years Nadab is assassinated by Baasha, one of his military commanders.

Baasha kills Nadab and all of Jeroboam's descendants, thus fulfilling the prophecy of Ahijah the prophet. He is constantly at war with King Asa of Judah.

The reigns of the northern kings Baasha, Elah, Zimri, Omri, and Ahab are recorded. Elijah tells Ahab of a coming drought. Elijah flees to the east and is sustained by ravens and then by a widow at Zarephath. He restores the widow's dead son to life.

The Lord delivers a message to Baasha through the prophet Jehu.

Jehu tells Baasha that he and all his descendants will be destroyed because of Baasha's wickedness.

After Baasha dies, his son Elah reigns, but he is killed in the second year of his reign.

Zimri, one of Elah's chariot commanders, kills Elah and all of Baasha's descendants, thus fulfilling Jehu's prophecy.

After a reign of only seven days, Zimri is overthrown by another military leader and commits suicide.

After Zimri's death, Tibni and Omri struggle for power. Omri wins and becomes king.

Omri builds the city of Samaria, which becomes the capital for the northern kingdom.

Omri is more wicked than any other king up to his time. He continues to promote idolatry in Israel.

Ahab follows Jeroboam's example and becomes Israel's worst king up to this time.

Ahab marries Jezebel, the daughter of the king of the Sidonians. She leads Ahab to worship Baal; he constructs a temple to Baal in Samaria.

Hiel rebuilds Jericho, but just as Joshua had foretold, Hiel's first son dies when the foundations are laid, and he loses his youngest son when the gates are in place.

The Lord raises up a prophet from Gilead named Elijah.

Elijah warns Ahab that there will be no rain in Israel unless he gives the word.

The Lord instructs Elijah to hide by Kerith Brook east of where it enters the Jordan River.

Elijah drinks from the brook and is fed by ravens sent by the Lord.

After a while the brook dries up, since there is no rain.

The Lord tells Elijah to go to the village of Zarephath to be fed by a widow there.

Elijah finds the widow and asks her for bread and water. She says that she has no food left except a handful of flour and some cooking oil.

Elijah tells her that there will always be plenty of flour and oil in her containers until the famine has ended.

The widow cooks Elijah his meal, and everything happens exactly as Elijah said.

The widow's son becomes sick and dies.

In great anguish the widow asks Elijah if he has come to punish her for some past sin.

Elijah stretches himself upon the boy's body and asks the Lord to bring him back from the dead.

The Lord grants Elijah's request, and the boy is raised from the dead!

The grateful widow testifies that Elijah is indeed a man of God.

Elijah challenges Ahab to a contest on Mount Carmel. The Lord honors Elijah's prayer, sending fire from heaven. Rain falls once again in Israel, and Elijah flees to Mount Sinai. The Lord tells him to anoint Elisha as his prophet and Jehu as king. So Elijah finds Elisha and makes him his assistant.

Elijah meets and talks with a follower of the Lord named Obadiah.

Obadiah is in charge of Ahab's palace.

Once Obadiah hid and fed 100 of the Lord's prophets to keep them from being killed by Jezebel.

Ahab instructs Obadiah to search the parched land for grass to feed the king's horses and mules.

As Obadiah is carrying out his duties, he meets Elijah, who tells him to arrange a meeting for him with King Ahab.

Obadiah fears that Elijah might not show up for the meeting, which would result in Obadiah's death!

After being reassured by Elijah, Obadiah sets up the meeting.

Elijah rebukes Israel for wavering between worshiping the Lord and Baal.

Elijah proposes a contest between himself and the prophets of Baal.

All morning the false prophets call out to Baal with no response.

At noon Elijah taunts them, suggesting that their god might be on a trip or sleeping!

In desperation, the prophets cut themselves with knives and swords!

In spite of their frantic attempts to reach Baal, the only response is silence!

Following Elijah's prayer, fire falls from heaven, consuming the sacrifice. The people cry out, "The LORD is God!"

Elijah tells the people to kill all the prophets of Baal, which they do.

Elijah announces the end of the three-year drought, and a terrific rainstorm sweeps over the land.

Jezebel vows to kill Elijah to avenge the death of her prophets. Elijah quickly flees to the desert.

In the desert Elijah collapses under a broom tree and prays that he might die. But an angel of the Lord comforts and feeds him.

After being strengthened by the angel, Elijah travels 40 days and nights to Mount Sinai, where he spends the night.

After Elijah complains about his situation, the Lord tells him to stand outside the cave. The Lord passes by, but he is not in the windstorm, earthquake, or fire. Instead the Lord comes to Elijah in a gentle whisper, asking him why he is there.

The Lord instructs Elijah to do three things:

The Lord tells Elijah that he is not alone, for there are 7,000 others in Israel who have not bowed to Baal or kissed him.

Elijah returns and finds Elisha plowing a field.

Elijah throws his cloak over Elisha's shoulders, indicating that he is calling him to follow. Elijah grants Elisha permission to say good-bye to his parents.

Elisha sacrifices his oxen and shares the meat with the other plowmen, thus ending his old occupation and beginning his life as Elijah's assistant.

Ben-hadad's forces besiege Samaria. King Ahab defeats them twice; Ahab makes a treaty with them but is condemned for sparing Ben-hadad. Jezebel arranges Naboth's death so Ahab can have his vineyard. Elijah condemns Ahab and Jezebel, but the Lord shows mercy when Ahab is repentant.

The Lord allows Ahab to defeat the Arameans on two occasions so he will know that the Lord is God.

Ben-hadad and his Aramean forces besiege Samaria and send demands to King Ahab.

"Your silver and gold are mine, and so are the best of your wives and children!"

"All that I have is yours!"

Ben-hadad then demands that his officials be allowed to search the palace and take anything valuable.

Ahab becomes incensed at this last demand and refuses to grant it.

Both men exchange hostile messages, and Ben-hadad prepares to destroy the city.

A prophet tells Ahab that he will be victorious.

Ahab defeats Ben-hadad's forces, destroying their horses and chariots and inflicting heavy losses.

The prophet tells Ahab to prepare for another attack by Benhadad in the spring.

Ben-hadad's officers falsely presume that the Israelites worship gods of the hills. They assure Ben-hadad of victory if he attacks the Israelites on the plains.

The prophet reassures Ahab that the Lord will defeat Ben-hadad's forces since they have defamed his name.

Israel utterly routs the Arameans, killing 127,000 of them! Ben-hadad runs and hides.

Ben-hadad's officers beg for mercy before King Ahab.

Disobeying God's command, Ahab makes a treaty with the Arameans and spares Benhadad.

In order to convey a message to King Ahab, a prophet disguises himself as a soldier who irresponsibly allowed a prisoner to escape.

King Ahab condemns the prophet, but then the prophet explains that the same is true of Ahab, since he allowed Ben-hadad to live.

Ahab desires to acquire a vineyard that is near his palace in Jezreel. Ahab offers to buy it from the owner, Naboth, or to exchange a better one for it.

Naboth declines, since the vineyard has belonged to his family for generations. Ahab becomes angry and sullen.

Jezebel writes letters in Ahab's name, instructing the leaders of Jezreel to arrange for Naboth to be falsely accused of blasphemy and stoned to death.

Jezebel's plan is carried out. After Naboth is stoned to death, Ahab claims his vineyard.

Elijah confronts Ahab in Naboth's vineyard and tells him that he and all his family will eventually be destroyed for their wickedness.

Hearing Elijah's terrible words, the king repents; the Lord chooses to carry out his sentence only after Ahab's death.

King Jehoshaphat of Judah joins forces with King Ahab of Israel to fight the Arameans. They ignore the warning of Micaiah the prophet and go to war. Ahab is killed in battle by an arrow. The reigns of Jehoshaphat and Ahaziah are summarized.

King Jehoshaphat of Judah agrees to an alliance with Ahab to fight the Arameans.

At Jehoshaphat's urging, Ahab asks many prophets if he should go to war against Ramoth-gilead.

Ahab's prophets, about 400 in all, assure him of victory.

A prophet of the Lord named Micaiah is brought before King Ahab and asked if Israel will be victorious.

At first Micaiah agrees with the other prophets, but Ahab demands that he tell the truth.

In a vision Micaiah saw the Israelites scattered like sheep because their shepherd (Ahab) had been killed. He also had a vision of the Lord allowing a spirit to inspire Ahab's prophets to speak lies.

After Ahab's prophets protest, Micaiah advises the king to wait and see if his prophecies are correct.

Both kings decide to lead their armies into battle.

King Ahab disguises himself so as not to look like the king, while Jehoshaphat wears the royal robes. The Arameans see Jehoshaphat and chase him, but they stop when they realize that he is not King Ahab.

An enemy arrow, shot at random, strikes King Ahab and mortally wounds him. Later, the dogs lick his blood just as Elijah and Micaiah had prophesied.

Judah's fourth ruler, Jehoshaphat, is ultimately declared good, despite his mixed record, including allowing pagan shrines to remain, making peace with Israel, removing all the shrine prostitutes, and building a fleet of trading ships that are wrecked before they ever set sail.

Israel's eighth ruler, Ahaziah, is declared wicked because he continues Jeroboam's sin of idolatry in Israel.