Historical context of 1 Kings

Who wrote 1 Kings, when, and to whom — and how that shapes the way we read it today.

Author

Anonymous

Date written

c. 560-540 BC

Original audience

Exiled Israel.

Genre

History

Testament

Old Testament

Chapters

22

Background and setting

10th-9th centuries BC; the monarchy fractures into Israel and Judah.

Why it matters today

Understanding the world 1 Kings was written into helps us read it on its own terms — and apply it faithfully to our lives now. God spoke through real people, in real history, for the lasting good of His people in every generation.

Read the overview of 1 Kings or jump into chapter 1.