I. Royal, Political, and Administrative Terms:;xNLx;;xNLx;Succession / Throne (e.g., 1 Kings 1:13, 17, 20, 24, 27, 30, 35, 46-48; 2:4, 12, 15, 19, 24, 33, 45): The act or right of inheriting a royal position. The "throne" refers to the seat of royal power, symbolizing kingship and authority. The early chapters of 1 Kings are dominated by the succession struggle for David's throne.;xNLx;Anoint / Anointed (Hebrew: mashach / mashiach) (e.g., 1 Kings 1:34, 39, 45 [Solomon]; 19:15-16 [Hazael, Jehu, Elisha]): The ritual act of applying holy oil to a person to set them apart for a special office, particularly kingship or prophethood, signifying God's choice and empowerment.;xNLx;Counselor (e.g., 1 Kings 1:12; 12:6, 8, 13): A trusted advisor to the king, offering political, strategic, or personal advice. Rehoboam's decision to follow the counsel of younger advisors over the elders had disastrous consequences.;xNLx;Officials / Servants (of the king) (e.g., 1 Kings 1:2-4; 4:1-19, 27; 5:1, 6; 9:22-23, 27; 10:4-5, 8; 12:6-7; 18:3; 22:9): Individuals holding positions of authority and service within the royal court and administration, responsible for various aspects of governance, household management, or military leadership.;xNLx;Provinces / Districts / Officers (e.g., 1 Kings 4:7-19; 20:14-15, 17, 19; 22:47 [governor]): Administrative divisions of the kingdom, each overseen by an officer responsible for providing provisions for the royal court or for other administrative duties. Solomon organized his kingdom into twelve districts.;xNLx;Levy / Forced Labor (Hebrew: mas) (e.g., 1 Kings 4:6 [ESV footnote]; 5:13-14; 9:15, 21; 12:4, 18): Compulsory labor exacted by the state from its populace (or from conquered peoples) for large-scale public works, such as the building of the Temple and Solomon's palace. This became a source of grievance leading to the kingdom's division.;xNLx;Tribute (e.g., 1 Kings 4:21; 10:10, 15, 25): Payment (in goods, money, or service) made by one ruler or nation to another, either as an acknowledgment of submission, for trade privileges, or as a gift. Many rulers brought tribute to Solomon.;xNLx;Covenant (Hebrew: berit) (e.g., 1 Kings 3:14 [implied in walking in statutes]; 6:11-13; 8:9, 21, 23-26; 11:11; 15:19; 19:10, 14; 20:34): A solemn, binding agreement. In 1 Kings, this refers to God's covenant with David (the Davidic Covenant promising an enduring dynasty), the covenant at Horeb (Sinai) with Israel, and political treaties between kings (e.g., Solomon and Hiram, Asa and Ben-hadad).;xNLx;Charter / Grant (1 Kings 2:36-42): Though not a single word, Shimei was under a kind of royal decree or restriction from David, confined to Jerusalem under oath.;xNLx;Chariots / Horsemen (e.g., 1 Kings 1:5; 4:26; 9:19, 22; 10:26, 28-29; 12:18; 16:9; 20:1, 20-21, 25; 22:4, 31-35, 38): Key elements of ancient military power. Solomon amassed a large force of chariots and horses. They were particularly effective on plains.;xNLx;Commander (of the army) (e.g., 1 Kings 1:19, 25 [Joab]; 2:5, 22, 32, 34-35 [Benaiah succeeds Joab]; 4:4; 11:15, 21; 16:16 [Omri]): The chief military officer.;xNLx;Garrison (Not frequently used in 1 Kings ESV, but the concept of military outposts in subject territories is present, e.g., Solomon's control over surrounding regions).;xNLx;Rebel / Rebellion (e.g., 1 Kings 11:26 [Jeroboam]; 12:19; 16:7, 20 [Zimri]): An act of open resistance or defiance against an established ruler or authority. The division of the kingdom began with the northern tribes rebelling against Rehoboam.;xNLx;II. Temple, Religious, and Cultic Terms:;xNLx;;xNLx;Temple / House of the LORD (e.g., 1 Kings 3:1-2; Chapters 5-8 describe its construction and dedication; 9:1, 3, 7-8, 10, 15; 10:5, 12; 11:27; 12:27; 14:26; 15:15, 18): The central sanctuary in Jerusalem built by King Solomon to be the dwelling place for God's name and the primary center for Israelite worship, sacrifices, and the housing of the Ark of the Covenant.;xNLx;Holy Place / Nave (e.g., 1 Kings 6:3, 5, 16-17, 20 [inner sanctuary], 31, 33; 7:50; 8:8, 10): The main hall of the Temple, located between the vestibule (porch) and the Most Holy Place. It contained the golden lampstands, the table for the bread of the Presence, and the altar of incense.;xNLx;Most Holy Place / Inner Sanctuary / Oracle (Hebrew: dvir) (e.g., 1 Kings 6:5, 16, 19-23, 25, 27, 29, 31; 7:49; 8:6, 8): The innermost and most sacred chamber of the Temple, a perfect cube, which housed the Ark of the Covenant. Only the High Priest could enter, and only on the Day of Atonement.;xNLx;Ark of the Covenant (e.g., 1 Kings 2:26; 3:15; 6:19; 8:1-9, 21): The sacred chest containing the tablets of the Ten Commandments, placed in the Most Holy Place of the Temple.;xNLx;Cherubim (e.g., 1 Kings 6:23-35; 7:29, 36; 8:6-7): Winged angelic beings, often depicted as guardians. Two massive gold-overlaid cherubim stood in the Most Holy Place, their wings overshadowing the Ark. Images of cherubim also adorned the walls and doors of the Temple.;xNLx;Altar (e.g., 1 Kings 1:50-53 [horns of the altar]; 2:28-34; 6:20, 22 [altar of incense]; 7:48; 8:22, 31, 54, 64; 9:25; 12:32-33; 13:1-5; 16:32; 18:26, 30, 32, 35): A structure on which sacrifices were offered. This includes the large bronze altar for burnt offerings in the Temple courtyard and the smaller golden altar of incense in the Holy Place.;xNLx;Bronze Sea / Molten Sea (1 Kings 7:23-26, 39, 44): A very large bronze basin in the Temple courtyard, supported by twelve bronze oxen, used by the priests for ritual washing.;xNLx;Stands / Basins (1 Kings 7:27-39): Ten elaborate bronze stands, each supporting a bronze basin, also used for ritual washing in the Temple courtyard.;xNLx;Pillars (Jachin and Boaz) (1 Kings 7:15-22, 41-42): Two massive bronze pillars that stood at the entrance to the Temple vestibule, named Jachin ("He will establish") and Boaz ("In him is strength").;xNLx;Dedication (of the Temple) (1 Kings 8): The formal ceremonies and prayers led by Solomon to consecrate the Temple for God's use and to invoke God's presence.;xNLx;Sacrifice / Offering (e.g., 1 Kings 1:9, 19, 25; 3:3-4, 15; 8:5, 62-64; 9:25; 11:8; 12:27, 32-33; 13:1-10; 17:13 [flour and oil]; 18:23-38; 22:17 [figurative]): Ritual acts of presenting animals, grain, incense, or other items to God (or false gods). The dedication of the Temple involved an enormous number of sacrifices.;xNLx;High Places (Hebrew: bamot) (e.g., 1 Kings 3:2-4; 11:7-8; 12:31-32; 13:2, 32-33; 14:23; 15:14; 22:43): Localized places of worship, often on hilltops. While Solomon sacrificed at the "great high place" in Gibeon before the Temple was built (sometimes seen as permissible then), many high places were later associated with idolatrous or syncretistic worship of Yahweh or other gods, and their continued use (even for Yahweh) was often condemned after the Temple's construction, as worship was meant to be centralized.;xNLx;Idols / Images (e.g., 1 Kings 11:4-8, 33; 12:28-30 [golden calves]; 14:9, 15, 23; 15:12-13; 16:32-33; 18:19, 25-28; 19:18; 21:26; 22:53): Representations of deities (either foreign gods or improper representations of Yahweh) whose worship was a violation of God's commands and a recurring sin in Israel and Judah.;xNLx;Asherah / Asherim (e.g., 1 Kings 14:15, 23; 15:13; 16:33; 18:19): A Canaanite mother goddess, or wooden poles/images representing her, often associated with Baal worship.;xNLx;Baal (e.g., 1 Kings 16:31-32; 17:1 [implied conflict]; 18:17-40; 19:18; 22:53): A prominent Canaanite storm and fertility god, whose worship was aggressively promoted by Ahab and Jezebel, leading to a direct confrontation with Elijah.;xNLx;Molech / Milcom (1 Kings 11:5, 7, 33): An Ammonite deity, associated with child sacrifice (though not explicitly detailed as such in 1 Kings, it's known from other texts). Solomon built a high place for Milcom.;xNLx;Chemosh (1 Kings 11:7, 33): A Moabite deity for whom Solomon also built a high place.;xNLx;Prophet (Hebrew: navi) (e.g., 1 Kings 1:8, 10, 22-23, 32, 34, 38, 44-45 [Nathan]; 11:29 [Ahijah]; 13:1-32 [man of God from Judah, old prophet]; 14:2, 18 [Ahijah]; 16:1, 7, 12 [Jehu son of Hanani]; 17:1, 13, 15, 18, 24 [Elijah]; 18:4, 13, 19-20, 22, 25, 36, 40; 19:1, 10, 14, 16; 20:13, 22, 35-43 [unnamed prophets]; 21:17 [Elijah]; 22:5-28 [Micaiah and false prophets]): An individual called by God to speak His messages, provide divine guidance, pronounce judgment, and call people to repentance. Nathan, Ahijah, Elijah, and Micaiah are key prophets in 1 Kings.;xNLx;Man of God (e.g., 1 Kings 12:22 [Shemaiah]; 13:1, 4-8, 11-12, 14, 21, 26, 29, 31; 17:18, 24 [Elijah]; 20:28): A term often used for a prophet or a divine messenger, emphasizing their authority as God's representative.;xNLx;Word of the LORD (Frequently throughout 1 Kings, e.g., 1 Kings 2:27; 6:11; 12:22, 24; 13:1-2, 5, 9, 17-18, 20-21, 26, 32; 14:5, 18; 15:29; 16:1, 7, 12, 34; 17:2, 5, 8, 16, 24; 18:1, 31; 19:9; 20:35; 21:17, 28; 22:5, 19, 38): A divine message, command, or revelation given by God, usually through a prophet.;xNLx;Oracle (See "Most Holy Place"): Can also refer to a divine revelation or pronouncement.;xNLx;Consecrate (e.g., 1 Kings 8:64 [altar]; 9:3, 7 [Temple]; 13:2, 33 [priests for high places]): To set apart for a holy or sacred purpose. Solomon consecrated the Temple. Jeroboam and others wrongfully consecrated priests for idolatrous shrines.;xNLx;Divination / Sorcery (e.g., 1 Kings 21:6 [ESV footnote, Naboth accused of cursing God and king, sometimes linked to "magic" in other contexts if it leads to false prophecy, though not a direct definition here]; 2 Kings 9:22 refers back to Jezebel's "whoredoms and sorceries" which began in 1 Kings): Practices of seeking supernatural knowledge or power apart from God, often associated with pagan religions and condemned by God. While not a dominant theme word in 1 Kings, the practices of false prophets and idol worship often had elements of divination.;xNLx;Syncretism (A concept rather than a single word, but highly relevant, e.g., 1 Kings 11:1-8 [Solomon]; 12:28-33 [Jeroboam]; 16:31-33 [Ahab]): The blending of different religious beliefs and practices. Solomon's later reign and the practices in the Northern Kingdom under Jeroboam and Ahab often involved syncretism, mixing Yahweh worship with pagan elements.;xNLx;III. General and Social Terms:;xNLx;;xNLx;Wisdom (e.g., 1 Kings 2:6, 9; 3:12, 28; 4:29-34; 5:7, 12; 10:1, 4, 6-8, 23-24; 11:41): Exceptional understanding, insight, discernment, and skill in judgment and governance, famously granted by God to Solomon.;xNLx;Proverb (1 Kings 4:32): A short, wise saying expressing a general truth or piece of advice. Solomon was renowned for his proverbs.;xNLx;Famine / Drought (e.g., 1 Kings 8:35, 37; 17:1-16; 18:1-6, 17-18): A severe shortage of food or water, often understood as a consequence of sin or as a divine judgment. Elijah proclaimed a drought.;xNLx;Sojourner / Alien (Hebrew: ger) (e.g., 1 Kings 8:41-43; 9:20-21): A foreigner residing in Israel. Solomon's prayer of dedication for the Temple includes a provision for sojourners.;xNLx;Kinsman (While the specific legal role of go'el as in Ruth is not central, family and clan relationships and their implications for loyalty, support, and vengeance are part of the social fabric): A relative by blood or marriage.;xNLx;Eunuch / Officer (Hebrew: saris) (e.g., 1 Kings 22:9): Can refer to a castrated male servant in a royal court, often holding positions of trust, or more broadly to any court official.;xNLx;Stones of remembrance / Memorial (Not a recurring phrase as in Joshua, but the Temple itself and specific events like the contest on Mount Carmel served as powerful memorials of God's acts and presence.):;xNLx;Leprosy / Leprous Disease (Hebrew: tsara'ath) (1 Kings 8:37-38 in a list of calamities; Naaman's leprosy is a major story in 2 Kings 5, but the term and concept would be known): A term for various skin diseases, and also for mildew in houses or garments, rendering a person ritually unclean.;xNLx;This list provides a starting point for understanding some of the key vocabulary encountered in the Book of 1 Kings (ESV). Knowing these terms in their historical and theological context is crucial for interpreting the narrative of Israel's monarchy, the significance of the Temple, the role of prophecy, and the consequences of obedience and disobedience to God's covenant.