Old Testament
The First Book of Kings
The First Book of Kings is the eleventh of the 46 books of the Old Testament: 22 chapters and 817 verses. The Douay-Rheims calls it 3 Kings.
About 1 Kings
About 1 Kings · Royal history
The first book of Kings runs from David's death through Solomon's temple and the kingdom's split into north and south, ending in the days of Elijah. It is anonymous, compiled from royal annals by editors formed on Deuteronomy, and the Douay-Rheims counts it as the third book of Kings. It was written after the catastrophe of exile to answer the question of how it all went wrong, and its measure for every king is simple: what he did with the worship of God. Solomon's glory and Elijah's fire sit side by side with a steady drumbeat of compromise.
| Testament | Old Testament — book 11 of 46, 11 of 73 in the Bible |
|---|---|
| Canon | Protocanonical (in every Christian canon) |
| Chapters | 22 |
| Verses | 817, as Bless numbers them |
| In the Douay-Rheims | 3 Kings |
| Latin | Clementine Vulgate, every chapter |
| Bp. Challoner | Summaries of all 22 chapters · 45 notes |
| Catechism | 11 paragraphs cite it |
Chapter by chapter
All 22 chapters, in brief.
Bishop Richard Challoner’s summary of each chapter, from his revision of the Douay-Rheims (1749–52). Open a chapter for the full text.
1 Kings 1
53 versesKing David growing old, Abisag a Sunamitess is brought to him. Adonias pretending to reign, Nathan and Bethsabee obtain that Solomon should be declared and anointed king.
1 Kings 2
46 versesDavid, after giving his last charge to Solomon, dieth. Adonias is put to death: Abiathar is banished: Joab and Semei are slain.
1 Kings 3
28 versesSolomon marrieth Pharao's daughter. He sacrificeth in Gabaon: in the choice which God gave him he preferreth wisdom. His wise judgment between the two harlots.
1 Kings 4
34 versesSolomon's chief officers. His riches and wisdom.
1 Kings 5
18 versesHiram king of Tyre agreeth to furnish timber and workmen for building the temple: the number of workmen and overseers.
1 Kings 6
38 versesThe building of Solomon's temple.
1 Kings 7
51 versesSolomon's palace, his house in the forest, and the queen's house: the work of the two pillars: the sea (or laver) and other vessels.
1 Kings 8
66 versesThe dedication of the temple: Solomon's prayer and sacrifices.
1 Kings 9
28 versesThe Lord appeareth again to Solomon: he buildeth cities: he sendeth a fleet to Ophir.
1 Kings 10
29 versesThe queen of Saba cometh to king Solomon: his riches and glory.
1 Kings 11
43 versesSolomon by means of his wives falleth into idolatry: God raiseth him adversaries, Adad, Razon, and Jeroboam: Solomon dieth.
1 Kings 12
33 versesRoboam, following the counsel of young men alienateth from him the minds of the people. They make Jeroboam king over ten tribes: he setteth up idolatry.
1 Kings 13
34 versesA prophet sent from Juda to Bethel foretelleth the birth of Josias, and the destruction of Jeroboam's altar. Jeroboam's hand offering violence to the prophet withereth, but is restored by the prophet's prayer: the same prophet is deceived by another prophet, and slain by a lion.
1 Kings 14
31 versesAhias prophesieth the destruction of the family of Jeroboam. He dieth, and is succeeded by his son Nadab. The king of Egypt taketh and pillageth Jerusalem. Roboam dieth and his son Abiam succeedeth.
1 Kings 15
34 versesThe acts of Abiam and of Asa kings of Juda. And of Nadab and Baasa kings of Israel.
1 Kings 16
34 versesJehu prophesieth against Baasa: his son Ela is slain and all his family destroyed by Zambri. Of the reign of Amri father of Achab.
1 Kings 17
24 versesElias shutteth up the heaven from raining. He is fed by ravens, and afterwards by a widow of Sarephta. He raiseth the window's son to life.
1 Kings 18
46 versesElias cometh before Achab. He convinceth the false prophets by bringing fire from heaven: he obtaineth rain by his prayer.
1 Kings 19
21 versesElias, fleeing from Jezabel, is fed by an angel in the desert; and by the strength of that food walketh forty days, till he cometh to Horeb, where he hath a vision of God.
1 Kings 20
43 versesThe Syrians besiege Samaria: they are twice defeated by Achab: who is reprehended by a prophet for letting Benadad go.
1 Kings 21
29 versesNaboth, for denying his vineyard to king Achab, is by Jezabel's commandment, falsely accused and stoned to death. For which crime Elias denounceth to Achab the judgments of God: upon his humbling himself the sentence is mitigated.
1 Kings 22
54 versesAchab believing his false prophets, rather than Micheas, is slain in Ramoth Galaad. Ochozias succeedeth him. Good king Josaphat dieth, and his son Joram succeedeth him.
Bp. Richard Challoner · chapter summaries
Coming up
Read at Mass.
From October 29, 2026 to October 28, 2027, 1 Kings is read at the principal Mass on 1 day in the US calendar. The next 8 readings:
| Date | Celebration | Reading | Citation |
|---|---|---|---|
| computed | Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time | First Reading | 1 Kings 19:4-8 |
| computed | Thirty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time | First Reading | 1 Kings 17:10-16 |
| computed | Thursday of the Fourth Week in Ordinary Time | First Reading | 1 Kings 2:1-4, 10-12 |
| computed | St. Agatha, Virgin and Martyr | First Reading | 1 Kings 3:4-13 |
| computed | Monday of the Fifth Week in Ordinary Time | First Reading | 1 Kings 8:1-7, 9-13 |
| computed | Tuesday of the Fifth Week in Ordinary Time | First Reading | 1 Kings 8:22-23, 27-30 |
| computed | Wednesday of the Fifth Week in Ordinary Time | First Reading | 1 Kings 10:1-10 |
| computed | St. Scholastica, Virgin | First Reading | 1 Kings 11:4-13 |
| computed | Friday of the Fifth Week in Ordinary Time | First Reading | 1 Kings 11:29-32; 12:19 |
| computed | Saturday of the Fifth Week in Ordinary Time | First Reading | 1 Kings 12:26-32; 13:33-34 |
| computed | Monday of the Tenth Week in Ordinary Time | First Reading | 1 Kings 17:1-6 |
| computed | St. Anthony of Padua, Priest and Doctor of the Church | First Reading | 1 Kings 17:7-16 |
| computed | Wednesday of the Tenth Week in Ordinary Time | First Reading | 1 Kings 18:20-39 |
| computed | Thursday of the Tenth Week in Ordinary Time | First Reading | 1 Kings 18:41-46 |
| computed | Friday of the Tenth Week in Ordinary Time | First Reading | 1 Kings 19:9a, 11-16 |
| computed | Saturday of the Tenth Week in Ordinary Time | First Reading | 1 Kings 19:19-21 |
| computed | Monday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time | First Reading | 1 Kings 21:1-16 |
| computed | Tuesday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time | First Reading | 1 Kings 21:17-29 |
| computed | Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time | First Reading | 1 Kings 19:16b, 19-21 |
No more readings are listed here; the liturgical calendar has every date through December 31, 2028.
Dates after May 31, 2027 are computed by Bless from the US Lectionary cycle — confirm with your parish.