"This new translation of and commentary on I Kings by the translator and coauthor of the Anchor Bible Commentary on II Kings recounts the early history of the Israelite monarchy. The book begins with the death of David and describes the reign of his successor, Solomon, the building of the first Temple, and the division of the monarchy into the two separate kingdoms of Israel and Judah. The prophetic activity of Elijah, who led the struggle against the worship of foreign gods in Israel and reminded the Israelites and their king that their loyalty to God would determine their fate, forms a second thread throughout the text. Mordechai Cogan examines these dual themes of history and prophecy, providing commentary on the major aspects of this epic book of the Hebrew Bible. An updated historical appraisal complements the literary analysis of each of the book's thirty-nine literary units, offering a new appreciation of this main source for the study of Israel's early monarchy."--BOOK JACKET.