The Book of Kings (סֵפֶר מְלָכִים, Sēfer Məlāḵīm) is a book in the Hebrew Bible, found as two books (1–2 Kings) in the Old Testament of the Christian Bible. It concludes the Deuteronomistic history, a history of Israel also including the books of Joshua, Judges and Samuel.
Biblical commentators believe the Books of Kings were written to provide a theological explanation for the destruction of the Kingdom of Judah by Babylon in c. 586 BCE and to provide a foundation for a return from Babylonian exile. The two books of Kings present a history of ancient Israel and Judah, from the death of King David to the release of Jehoiachin from imprisonment in Babylon—a period of some 400 years (960-560 BCE). Scholars tend to treat the books as consisting of a first edition from the late 7th century BCE and of a second and final edition from the mid-6th century BCE.
The Jerusalem Bible divides the two Books of Kings into eight sections:
1 Kings 1:1–2:46. The Davidic Succession
1 Kings 3:1–11:43. Solomon in all his glory
1 Kings 12:1–13:34. The political and religious schism
1 Kings 14:1–16:34. The two kingdoms until Elijah
1 Kings 17:1 – 2 Kings 1:18. The Elijah cycle
2 Kings 2:1–13:25. The Elisha cycle
2 Kings 14:1–17:41. The two kingdoms to the fall of Samaria
2 Kings 18:1–25:30. The last years of the kingdom of Judah
David is by now old, and so his attendants look for a virgin to look after him. They find Abishag, who looks after him but they do not have sexual relations. Adonijah, David's fourth son, born after Absalom, decides to claim the throne. With the support of Joab, David's general, and Abiathar, the priest, he begins a coronation procession. He begins the festivities by offering sacrifices at En Rogel in the presence of his brothers and the royal officials, but does not invite Nathan the prophet; Benanaiah, captain of the king's bodyguard (or indeed the bodyguard itself); or even his own brother Solomon.
Nathan comes to Bathsheba, Solomon's mother, and informs her what is going on.