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Solomon's Rise to Power (1Kgs 1: 1-53) 
The chapters begin with an account of David’s death. That death is important for the characterization of the brutal way o which Solomon came to royal power. The chapters summarize the reign of Solomon. They artistically hold together an account of his economic success as judged by conventional political standards and an ominous critique of Solomon’s disregard for Torah that evoke heavy and enduring judgment. In a general way, the narrative is organized with the positive materials in chapters 3-4 under the rubric, “Solomon loved Yahweh” (3:3) and the negative parts in chapter 9-11 under the rubric, “Solomon loved many foreign women” (11:1). Between these two stand chapters 5-7 concerning the construction of the temple, culminating in the dedication of chapter 8. In the judgment of this narrative, Solomon is quite a mixed bag of worldly success and Torah failure.
 

Solomon’s Consolidation of Power (1Kgs 2:1-46)
This extended chapter marks the transition of power from father David to son Solomon, reporting David’s death and Solomon’s ruthless consolidation of royal power. The chapter divides into David’s speech of counsel to his son (2:1-9) and Solomon’s actions that only partly correspond to David’s counsel (2:13-46), between which is the terse notice of David’s death. (2:10-11).

Beginnings as a Pious, Wise King (1Kgs 3: 1-28)
In this chapter we are offered the beginning point of Solomon’s newly established regime. The unit divides into two unequal but perhaps cunningly related parts (3:1-15, 3:16-28)

Royal Impressiveness (1Kgs 4: 1-34)

This extended chapter is a summary report on the development, success, and extravagance of Solomonic regime. That regime must have been enormously successful and deeply impressive to Israelites who were only two generations removed from hill-country subsistence living. The chapter is divided into five sections. The first four sections concern economic development and are complemented in the fifth section by an account of one of Solomon’s cultural interests. In this chapter Solomon is evidently changing the foundations of social relationships in Israel decisively, away from egalitarian, communitarian modes and toward a much more highly organized arrangement. For such an ambitious government, two general mechanisms are required, a bureaucratic ordering of administrative power and an adequate system of taxation to finance the new ambitions. As we shall see, both needs are reflected in the text. 

Temple Preparations (1Kgs 5:1-18)

Chapters 5-8 of 1Kings concern the building of the Jerusalem temple, the primary contribution for which Solomon is remembered in Israel. This larger unit may be divided into three parts: Chapter5 concerns preparation for the building of the temple, chapter 6-7 concern the actual work of construction, and chapter8 is extended theological reflection upon the significance of the temple. In reading this material this is important to recognize that the temple is radical innovation in the life and faith of Israel. Never before has Israel had a permanent place in which to worship Yahweh. We can assume that such a changed notion of worship decisively impacted Israel’s self-understanding and Israel’s sense of Yahweh in its midst.

Temple Construction (1Kgs 6-7)

With the completion of preparations for the building of the temple (supplies and manpower), these two chapters now take up the actual construction of the temple. The chapters trace the building of the temple (6:1-38), other buildings in the royal complex (7:1-12), and the internal furnishings of the temple (7:13-51). The apparent purpose of this entire report is to articulate the splendor of Solomon’s achievement as a builder, presented to established Solomon’s ostentatious piety or perhaps to lead the reader to awe, amazement, and gratitude for Solomon’s achievement.

At the same time, however, one cannot help but notice the opulence of the enterprise made possible only by forced labor (cheap labor) and what must have been coercive tax policies required to help pay for the project. And if one entertains the thoughts, perhaps suggested by the text, that the entire project has as much to do with the glorification of Solomon as it does with the honoring of Yahweh, then one may return to wonder about the tension in the authorizing text of 2Samuel 7:5-7 precluding a temple, while v.13 authorizes it. From the ground up, the temple in Jerusalem is seen in the tradition as an ominously ambiguous undertaking. If we keep that issue in focus, then we will not be too upset by the fact that the text at many points is unclear and inconsistent. One has a very difficult time reconstructing or understanding the actual detailed situation of the temple form the text. But then we may surmise that such a specific architectural gain is not the primary interest of the text. It is enough either to exult in the achievement or to critique the indulgence, depending on how the text is understood.
 

The Temple Dedicated and Made Operational (1Kgs 8:1-66)

The long account of chapters 6-7 details the construction of the temple. Except for 6:13, we have encountered no explicit theological statement about Yahweh’s presence in the temple. In the present long chapter, we move from the architecture of the temple to is theological liturgical significance, a move accomplished by a dramatic, extravagant event of dedication, whereby the royal achievement of the building is handed over to Yahweh. This chapter is made up of a series of quite distinct literary and liturgical pieces that as we shall see, give voice to quite different and competing notions of the theological significance of the temple.

An Interface of Theological Warning and Self-Congratulations (1Kgs 9:1-28)

This chapter consists of rigorous theological reflection on the reign of Solomon (9:1-9) and six textual fragments that characterize his governance (9:10-28). The juxtaposition of these two textual units suggests some sense of irony that amounts to an understated but clear critique of the monarchy.

The Global Economist (1Kgs 10: 1-29)

This chapter picks up themes of chapter9 and provides an ebullient report on Solomon’s specialization in “riches and wisdom” (10:23), the very things he had not asked for in the dream of 3:10-13. According to this report, Solomon is successful on every front, has no negative element anywhere in his dossier, and is the marvel of all the earth. The chapter divides into a narrative concerning the visit of the Queen of Sheba (10:1-13) and a more generalized list of Solomon’s success (10:14-29).

When the Chickens Come Home to Roost (1Kgs 11:1-43)
The change of mood, as we move into chapter 11, is abrupt and ominous. Chapter10 had been a celebrative account of Solomon’s enormous success on every front, without any hint of negativity. Now, suddenly, at the end of the Solomon narrative, we receive a theological verdict on Solomon according to the Torah-criteria of the Deuteronomist. The chapter consists of a theological verdict (11:1-13), together with three accounts of would-be opponents of Solomon (11:14-22, 12-25, and 26-40), and a concluding literary footnote (11:41-43).




Resources：
1. Peter L. Leithart, 1 & 2 Kings (Brazos Theological commentary on the Bible), Brazos Press, 2006.
2. Brill, Editors: Andre Lemaire and Baruch Halpern, Volume 129, The Book of Kings (Sources, Composition, Historiography and Reception), Leiden - Boston, 2010.
3. Walter Brueggemann, Smyth & Helwys Bible Commentary: 1& 2 Kings, Smyth & Helwys Publishing, 2000. 
4. Carl G. Rasmussen, Zondervan Atlas of the Bible, 2010
5. M. Christine Tetley, The Reconstructed Chronology of the Divided Kingdom, Eisenbrauns, 2005.