Answer
First Kings vividly depicts the highs and lows of Solomon’s reign as king of Israel and how the nation divided into north and south after he died. It narrates the Israelites’ rise to prosperity as well as its eventual downfall. Israel is a unified nation in the first half of the book (chapters 1—11) and a divided one in the second half (chapters 12—22). Although Jewish tradition attributes authorship to the prophet Jeremiah, 1 Kings was likely written by an anonymous writer sometime between 561 and 538 BC.
Originally, 1 and 2 Kings were one book called “Kings.” Understanding the content and structure of these books offers context for when 1 Kings was written. An important factor in establishing a timeframe for the composition of 1 Kings is determining the dates of the events narrated in 1 and 2 Kings. The first narrative in 1 Kings records the final days of David, concluding with his death in 971 BC (chapters 1—2). Next, David’s son Solomon reigned for 40 years, dying in 931 BC (1 Kings 11:41–43). The remainder of 1 Kings spans approximately 78 years, ending in 853 BC. Thus, 1 Kings covers about 118 years in total. Furthermore, the events of 2 Kings start in 853 BC and conclude in 561 BC, so the composition of “Kings” couldn’t have been finalized until after that.
So, 1 Kings was most likely written between 561 BC—the approximate date of the last passage in 2 Kings 25:27–30, which describes the release of Jehoiachin—and 538 BC, when the Persians conquered the Babylonians who subsequently released Israel from captivity, an event not described in the book.
The author of 1 Kings cites several books he used as sources in his writing, such as “the Acts of Solomon” (e.g., 1 Kings 11:41, ESV), “the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel” (e.g., 1 Kings 14:19, ESV), and “the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah” (e.g., 1 Kings 14:29, ESV). Thus, the author is writing about the history of Israel before the exile, using records from that time period. This provides readers with accurate and trustworthy information, helping them reflect on the spiritual lessons of the book.
Even though God disciplined Israel for its sin, He remained faithful to the nation. First Kings 8:23 states, “O Lord, God of Israel, there is no God like you, in heaven above or on earth beneath, keeping covenant and showing steadfast love to your servants who walk before you with all their heart.” The author of 1 Kings recorded a period of Israelite history that exemplifies God’s faithfulness despite the waywardness of His people, which highlights His covenant loyalty to them.