Hey, this is a year in the Bible with Daily Grace, and today marks a really big milestone

in our journey through the Bible this year.

If you're following along in our A Year in the Bible studies, then you closed up volume one and you opened volume two.

And we're beginning the book of First Kings.

Today we're going to talk through chapters one through three, but we're also just going to

give you a little bit of an overview of the book of First Kings and even Second Kings too,

because these books are closely tied together.

So Paul, we're excited to have you joining us for the books of First and Second Kings.

Before we jump into today's chapters, can you give us just a little bit of an overview of these two books?

Yeah, so First and Second Kings were originally one book in the Hebrew Bible. And so they're kind of thought to have

been written by one person, not really sure who that author is, but were one cohesive book

that also follows the narrative of 1st and 2nd Samuel. So we pick up right where we left

off with 1st and and Second Samuel with David.

And so, you know, whereas First and Second Samuel focused more on Saul and David,

First and Second Kings is going to focus on Solomon and then a bunch of other kings.

So many other kings.

Apply named, right, as well as some prophets.

We're going to see some more prophetic activity here.

And so we begin with the ascension of David's son Solomon to the throne.

And then after Solomon's reign, though, we see the nation split into two.

So we have the 12 tribes of Israel kind of divide themselves after a ploy for the throne.

But, you know, even before we start reading, I think it's helpful to mention not just where

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