Melachim I Perek 1

• Avishag HaShunamit was given to King Dovid to keep him warm in his old age. (Meforshim explain that Dovid was punished that clothing did not keep him warm because he cut off the corner of King Shaul’s robe.)

• Adoniyah ben Chagit, the oldest son of Dovid, created a royal “motorcade” to travel with him wherever he went.

• Adoniyah was trying to assert himself as the new King of Yisrael

• Yoav and Evyasar supported Adoniyah.

• Adoniyah made a royal banquet for all of his supporters.

• Nasan HaNavi heard what Adoniyah was doing and encouraged Bas Sheva to inform King Dovid and try to have Shlomo (bas Sheva’s child) anointed as the new King.

• Bas Sheva approached King Dovid and related the events that had transpired with Adoniyah.

• King Dovid immediately ordered Beniyahu, Nasan and Tsaddok the kohen to anoint Shlomo as the new King.

• Shlomo was anointed and proclaimed the king of Yisrael.

• The news reached Adoniyah’s supporters and the banquet was abandoned.

• King Shlomo made an agreement with Adoniyah. Adoniyah would not be killed, providing that he remained loyal to Shlomo.

Melachim I Perek 2

· Before dying, Dovid told Shlomo that in order for the kingship to be his for eternity, he must be diligent in keeping the Torah.

· King Dovid told Shlomo to deal with the following people, as follows: 1) Yoav – be suspicious of him and do not let him grow old. 2) Give proper reward to the family of Barzillai (they supported Dovid when he was on the run from Avshalom.) 3) Shimi ben Gera is guilty for cursing and shaming King Dovid.

· Adoniyah asked Bas Sheva for an innocuous favor – to ask Shlomo to give him Avishag HaShunamit as a wife. (Note: this was another attempt to usurp the throne from Shlomo.)

· Bas Sheva consented and asked Shlomo.

· King Shlomo immediately understood what Adoniyah was trying to do.

· King Shlomo ordered Benayahu to kill Adoniyah.

· Evyasar the kohen was banished to Anatot and was not killed because he had served King Dovid in his time of need, and he had carried the Ark of Hashem.

· King Shlomo ordered Yoav to be killed for supporting Adoniyah.

· Yoav was killed by Benayahu.

· Shimi Ben Gera was told that on the day that he would leave Yerushalayim he would be killed.

· Three years later Shimi went to track down two of his servants who had left Yerushalayim.

· King Shlomo found out and confronted Shimi.

· King Shlomo ordered Benayahu to kill Shimi.

· The kingdom of Yisrael was established through King Shlomo.

Melachim I Perek 2

· Before dying, Dovid told Shlomo that in order for the kingship to be his for eternity, he must be diligent in keeping the Torah.

· King Dovid told Shlomo to deal with the following people, as follows: 1) Yoav – be suspicious of him and do not let him grow old. 2) Give proper reward to the family of Barzillai (they supported Dovid when he was on the run from Avshalom.) 3) Shimi ben Gera is guilty for cursing and shaming King Dovid.

· Adoniyah asked Bas Sheva for an innocuous favor – to ask Shlomo to give him Avishag HaShunamit as a wife. (Note: this was another attempt to usurp the throne from Shlomo.)

· Bas Sheva consented and asked Shlomo.

· King Shlomo immediately understood what Adoniyah was trying to do.

· King Shlomo ordered Benayahu to kill Adoniyah.

· Evyasar the kohen was banished to Anatot and was not killed because he had served King Dovid in his time of need, and he had carried the Ark of Hashem.

· King Shlomo ordered Yoav to be killed for supporting Adoniyah.

· Yoav was killed by Benayahu.

· Shimi Ben Gera was told that on the day that he would leave Yerushalayim he would be killed.

· Three years later Shimi went to track down two of his servants who had left Yerushalayim.

· King Shlomo found out and confronted Shimi.

· King Shlomo ordered Benayahu to kill Shimi.

· The kingdom of Yisrael was established through King Shlomo.

Melachim I Perek 3

• Shlomo made an alliance with Paroh, king of Egypt, and married bas Paroh (Paroh’s daughter.)

• Sacrifices were offered on bamos by Yisrael (the bamos were halachically-sanctioned altars that were outside of the Mishkan in Shilo.)

• Shlomo thanked Hashem for all the goodness and kindness that He had done for him and his father, Dovid. Shlomo told Hashem that he feels inadequate in wisdom to be able to properly judge the great nation of Yisrael, to judge what’s right and what’s wrong.

• Hashem said that because Shlomo did not ask for wealth or honor, not only will Hashem give Shlomo the aforementioned, but Hashem will also make Shlomo the wisest person who ever lived!

Note: this was all on condition that Shlomo would properly keep the words of the Torah.

• When Shlomo awoke he brought sacrifices to Hashem in Yerushalayim.

• Two women came to Shlomo with a case for him to rule on. This is the gist of the case:

• The two women were living in one house and gave birth 3 days apart, but one of the babies was dead. The first woman argued that her baby was intentionally switched with the second woman’s dead baby. The second woman denied the accusation and maintained that the first woman was the mother of the dead baby.

• With great wisdom Shlomo ordered that the baby to be cut in half and that each woman should receive one half of the baby.

• One of the woman exclaimed, “Let the other woman have the baby, but spare the baby’s life!”

• Shlomo then knew that the true mother was the woman who wanted the baby’s life to be spared.

• The kingdom was established through King Shlomo.

Melachim I Perek 4

• Yisrael was happy that King Shlomo ruled over the nation.

• This perek lists members in King Shlomo’s court

• Shlomo set up 12 commissioners throughout the land of Yisrael. Each commissioner would come for 1 month of the year to serve in King Shlomo’s court. The Navi again lists all of the names of the commissioners.

• Yehudah and Yisrael were as populated as the sands on the beach.

Melachim I Perek 5

• Shlomo’s kingdom was far-reaching and he ruled over all the kingdoms.

• An enormous amount of food was consumed daily in Shlomo’s court, as dignitaries and visitors had come from all around the world to hear Shlomo’s wisdom.

• It was a time of peace for Yisrael.

• Shlomo’s wisdom had far surpassed the cultures of the time.

• Shlomo had “cut a deal” with Charam, King of Tsur, that Charam would provide the wood for the construction of the Beis Hamikdash and Shlomo would provide provisions for Charam’s workers.

• Shlomo had taken 30,000 workers on a rotation basis from Yisrael to assist Charam. 10,000 men at a time would work one month, then return home for two months.

• The Navi lists the mass numbers of workers that were involved in the building of the Beis Hamikdash.

Melachim I Perek 6

• The Navi lists in great detail the dimensions of the Beis Hamikdash.

• The measurements and dimensions are given for the following: front entrance way, narrow windows, Sanctuary, Holy of Holies, the annex, the thickness and depth of the walls, winding stair cases, decorative ceilings, the curtain partition in the Holy of Holies, designs of the flowery-looking knobs, gold that was used for encasing, the two Ch’ruvim with golden wings, entrance doors and an inner court yard.

• Construction of the Beis Hamikdash took 7 years.

Melachim I Perek 7

• The perek discusses further the architectural plans and details of the many other items that Shlomo constructed.

• After competition of the Beis Hamikdash, Shlomo worked on his own construction.

• Shlomo built 3 houses: 1) the royal palace, 2) Beis Ya’ar HaLevanon – ‘house of the forest’, essentially a house for cooling off in with a lot of open-air ventilation, 3) A house for bas Paroh (his wife.)

• The items listed are: throne room, room of judgment, 2 elaborate pillars called the Yachin V’Boaz, Yam shel Shlomo, essentially a large ornate mikva, 10 copper stands, 10 copper kirot, pots, shovels, bowls, lids, the golden altar, table for the lechem HaPanim, musical instruments and golden hinges for the doors.

• Note: Each item was decorated ornately with gold, precious stones and intricate design.

• Shlomo put into the treasury all of the sanctified possessions of his father, Dovid.

Melachim I Perek 8

• The Ark of Hashem was moved to its permanent location in the Beis Hamikdash.

• This perek contains a beautiful and lengthy prayer that Shlomo recited at the inauguration ceremony of the Beis Hamikdash.

• The themes of Shlomo’s amazing prayer are:

• Hashem has done a great kindness to King Dovid by allowing his son Shlomo to take the throne and build a house for Hashem.

• Ultimately Hashem cannot be confined to one place on earth. It is part of Hashem’s greatness and love for Yisrael that Hashem chose to rest His presence on the Beis Hamikdash.

• Shlomo pleaded for Hashem to always listen to the prayers of Yisrael, night and day.

• The Beis Hamikdash will provide forgiveness for Yisrael.

• The Beis Hamikdash is also for the Gentile nations.

• Shlomo personally blesses Yisrael to follow in Hashem’s ways and keep His Torah.

• Shlomo brought sacrifices to Hashem.

• Yisrael celebrated and was happy on that day.

Melachim I Perek 9

• Shlomo received his second prophecy.

• The gist of the prophecy was: Hashem’s “eyes and heart” will always be focused on the Beis Hamikdash, provided that Yisrael keeps the Torah and serves Hashem with a sincere desire.

• Chiram, king of Tsur, provided Shlomo with the cedar trees, cypress trees and gold needed for Shlomo’s general construction.

• In return, Shlomo gave Chiram 20 cities in the Galil as a gift.

• Chiram did not like the cities because essentially, they were quicksand and unfit for construction (Rashi.)

• The Navi lists several towns in which Shlomo built.

• Shlomo exacted a “human labor” tax from the Emori, Chiti, Prizi, Chivi and Yevusi nations who were taken as servants and not killed.

Note: these were the remnants of the nations that were left over from the time of Yehoshua.

• Shlomo had Yisrael work in various jobs and positions needed for the army.

• Bas Paroh moved to a different palace that Shlomo had built.

• Three times a year Shlomo brought sacrifices to Hashem. Shlomo also lit the incense for Hashem.

• Shlomo built ships for maritime travel and protection, together with the king of Chiram’s men, who served along side of his men.

Melachim I Perek 10

• Queen of Sheba came to speak with Shlomo and brought a large quantity of gifts.

• Queen of Sheba “tested” Shlomo with riddles and shared her feelings with Shlomo.

• Queen of Sheba realized and confessed that Shlomo’s wisdom was far greater than she had imagined.

• Chiram’s fleet of ships brought gold and Almug trees (coral) as gifts for Shlomo.

• Shlomo used so much gold, that silver was considered worthless.

• Shlomo made golden shields, an elaborate throne, and drank from golden cups.

• The kings of Tarshish and Chiram would come every 3 years to Shlomo with gold, silver, ivory and peacocks as gifts.

• Shlomo would set fixed prices to buy chariots and riders.

• Shlomo had amassed so much wealth that he would export products from Eretz Yisroel to the other kings outside of Eretz Yisrael.

Melachim I Perek 11

As Shlomo was considered one of the greatest tzadikim ever to live, there are many fine details and subtleties that need to be understood in this perek through the “eyes of Chazal.” If those of the previous generation were considered like angels, then we would be considered as mortals. But if those of the previous generations are considered like mortals, then we are considered as donkeys (Shabbos 112b.) Whoever says that Shlomo sinned is mistaken (Shabbos 56b.) This is a list of the events as the Navi records them. The Seforim of Navi are open for all who would like to learn this perek in greater depth.

• Shlomo married many women from the surrounding nations from which Hashem had commanded not to marry.

• Shlomo had 700 wives and 300 concubines who “swayed his heart” away from Hashem.

• Shlomo’s heart was not with Hashem the way his father Dovid’s heart was.

• Shlomo assisted in building idols for Ammon and Moav.

• Hashem became angry at Shlomo.

• Hashem told Shlomo that his kingdom would be split because of what he had done. However, as per a promise made to his father, Dovid, the kingship would not be split during his lifetime. The kingship would be split during his son’s lifetime.

• Shlomo would not completely lose the kingship, as one tribe would remain in his dynasty forever.

• Hashem sent Hadad, the first person to “bother/annoy” Shlomo. The Navi does not mention how Hadad antagonized Shlomo.

• Razon was the 2nd person to antagonize Shlomo during his lifetime.

• Yiravam ben Nevat was the 3rd person to antagonize Shlomo.

• Yiravam was a hard worker and a “man of valor.”

• Achiya HaShilani, a Navi of Hashem, met with Yiravam and told Yiravam that he will be the next king of Yisrael.

• Achiya HaShilani ripped his clothing into 12 pieces and told Yiravam to take 10 of them, symbolizing that the throne will be ripped away from Shlomo’s family after Shlomo dies.

• Shlomo wanted to kill Yiravam. Yiravam ran to Egypt until the death of Shlomo.

• Shlomo passed away. Shlomo had ruled over Yisroel for 40 years.

• Shlomo was buried next to his father, Dovid. (Ramad Walli explains: Shlomo was buried next Dovid to indicate that despite Shlomo’s “sins” he was still considered a tzaddik.)

Melachim I Perek 11

As Shlomo was considered one of the greatest tzadikim ever to live, there are many fine details and subtleties that need to be understood in this perek through the “eyes of Chazal.” If those of the previous generation were considered like angels, then we would be considered as mortals. But if those of the previous generations are considered like mortals, then we are considered as donkeys (Shabbos 112b.) Whoever says that Shlomo sinned is mistaken (Shabbos 56b.) This is a list of the events as the Navi records them. The Seforim of Navi are open for all who would like to learn this perek in greater depth.

• Shlomo married many women from the surrounding nations from which Hashem had commanded not to marry.

• Shlomo had 700 wives and 300 concubines who “swayed his heart” away from Hashem.

• Shlomo’s heart was not with Hashem the way his father Dovid’s heart was.

• Shlomo assisted in building idols for Ammon and Moav.

• Hashem became angry at Shlomo.

• Hashem told Shlomo that his kingdom would be split because of what he had done. However, as per a promise made to his father, Dovid, the kingship would not be split during his lifetime. The kingship would be split during his son’s lifetime.

• Shlomo would not completely lose the kingship, as one tribe would remain in his dynasty forever.

• Hashem sent Hadad, the first person to “bother/annoy” Shlomo. The Navi does not mention how Hadad antagonized Shlomo.

• Razon was the 2nd person to antagonize Shlomo during his lifetime.

• Yiravam ben Nevat was the 3rd person to antagonize Shlomo.

• Yiravam was a hard worker and a “man of valor.”

• Achiya HaShilani, a Navi of Hashem, met with Yiravam and told Yiravam that he will be the next king of Yisrael.

• Achiya HaShilani ripped his clothing into 12 pieces and told Yiravam to take 10 of them, symbolizing that the throne will be ripped away from Shlomo’s family after Shlomo dies.

• Shlomo wanted to kill Yiravam. Yiravam ran to Egypt until the death of Shlomo.

• Shlomo passed away. Shlomo had ruled over Yisroel for 40 years.

• Shlomo was buried next to his father, Dovid. (Ramad Walli explains: Shlomo was buried next Dovid to indicate that despite Shlomo’s “sins” he was still considered a tzaddik.)

Melachim I Perek 12

• Rechavam went to Sh’chem to be anointed by Yisrael.

• Yiravam had returned from Egypt upon hearing the news about the death of Shlomo.

• Yiravam rallied the support of Yisrael and confronted Rechavam, asking for him to alleviate the burden of taxes that Shlomo had placed on them.

• Rechavam requested 3 days’ time to answer.

• 1st Rechavam asked the elders for their advice. The elders told Rechavam that if he listens, the burden of Yisrael will be his forever.

• 2nd Rechavam asked his childhood friends. The friends told him to speak to Yisrael in a harsh manner saying, “If my father hurt you with sticks, I will hurt you with scorpions!”

• Rechavam did not listen to the advice of the elders, but listened instead to the advice of the “youngsters.”

• This was all orchestrated by Hashem to have the kingdom ripped away from the house of Shlomo.

• Immediately upon Rechavam delivering the harsh words of the “youngsters”, Yisrael started rebelling against Rechavam.

• Adorom, the tax collector for Rechavam, was stoned and killed by Yisrael.

• Rechavam prepared for civil war, but received a prophecy from Shemayah not to attack.

• The kingdom was split. Yiravam set up 2 golden calves for idol worship, one located in Dan and the other located in Beit-el. Yiravam also constructed a “mini Beis Hamikdash” for idol worship and created an imitation, faux holiday for Yisrael to worship on.

Melachim I Perek 13

• A navi approached Yiravam while he was bringing sacrifices in his “mini Beis Hamikdash.” (Rashi & Radak: The navi’s name was Ado.)

• The navi related to Yiravam that a son from the house of Dovid named Yoshiyahu will be born, and human bones will have brought on your altar. The altar will split in half and ashes will fall.

• Yiravam stuck out his arm and ordered the navi to be captured. Hashem made Yiravam’s arm become paralyzed.

• Yiravam asked for the navi to pray for him to be healed. The navi consented and Yiravam’s arm was healed.

• The navi refused a meal offered by Yiravam, saying that he had strict orders from Hashem not to eat food from anyone in the city, (as it is forbidden to derive pleasure from idol worship.)

• There was a false navi (according to most meforshim) who heard the news about the aforementioned incident from his child.

• The false navi tracked down the real navi and offered him a place to eat.

• Again, the real navi declined, relating that he had been commanded by Hashem not to eat with anyone from the city.

• The false navi tricked and convinced the real navi to come for a meal. (Radak: the false navi told him, “Hashem didn’t want you to eat from anyone who serves idols, but I’m a proper navi, just like you, so you may eat by me.)

• In the middle of the meal, the false navi received a prophecy: the real navi will die on his way home.

• A lion killed the real navi on his way home.

• A lion and donkey stayed by the dead body as a marker of the body’s location.

• The false navi gathered the body and buried it in his own personal plot.

• Yiravam continued to cause Yisrael harm and destruction.

Melachim I Perek 14

• Yiravam’s child, Aviyah, became sick.

• Yiravam told his wife to disguise herself and go to the navi, Achiya Hashiloni, to find out what will happen to their child.

• Achiyah Hashiloni was blind in his old age, but he had received a prophecy prior to the wife’s coming that Yiravam’s wife was coming for advice.

• Achiyah immediately let her know that he knows who she is.

• Achiyah recounted a harsh prophecy that every male member of her family will die and will not have a proper burial, except for Aviyah. Dogs and birds will eat the corpses of her family, either in the fields or in the cities. Aviyah would die when she returned home.

• Aviyah died and had a proper burial.

Moed Katan 28B: Aviyah either got rid of the guards his father had set up to stop people from traveling to the Beis Hamikdash, or he personally went to the Beis Hamikdash. Therefore, it was fitting for Aviyah to have a proper burial, for the good deed that he had done.

• Yiravam reigned for 22 years until his death. His son Nadav ruled next.

• Five years into the kingship of Rechavam, Shishak, king of Egypt, stormed the Beis Hamikdash and looted it.

• Yehudah had turned to idol worship.

• Rechavam was 41-year-old when he became king. He reigned over Yehudah for 17 years.

• Rechavam died and was buried in the city of Dovid.

Melachim I Perek 15

• The split in the kingship between Yisrael and Yehudah continued.

• Aviyam, son of Rechavom, ruled over Yehudah for 3 years, until his death.

• Aviyam did not follow in the ways of Hashem.

Note: meforshim explain that it’s not that Aviyam did evil, but rather that Aviyam did not improve the moral status of Yehudah, and therefore it was considered as if Aviyam perpetrated evil.

• Assa, Aviyam’s son, ruled next over Yehuda for 41 years.

• Assa majorly improved the moral state of Yehudah and was vigilant against the harlotry and idol worship that was rampant.

• However, Assa was not able to rid Yehudah fully of worship on forbidden private altars.

• Assa maintained the wealth of the Beis Hamikdash.

• Ba’sha ruled over Yisrael.

• There was constant strife between Ba’sha and Assa.

• Assa elicited the help of Ben Haddad, King of Aram, in defeating Ba’sha. Haddad was bribed with the treasures of the Beis Hamikdash.

• Assa’s son Yehoshaphat ruled over Yehudah next.

• Ba’sha, king of Yisrael, wiped out the family of Yeravam ben Nevat in accordance with curse of Achiya HaShiloni.

• Ba’sha ruled over Yisrael for 24 years and caused Yisrael to sin.

• Lineage of Yehudah so far: Dovid, Shlomo, Rechavam, Aviyam, Assa and Yehoshaphat.

• Lineage of Yisrael so far: Yiravam, Nadav and Ba’sha.

Melachim I Perek 16

• Yehu ben Chanani, the prophet, put a curse on Ba’sha, King of Yisrael, that his family would be wiped out for not following in the ways of Hashem.

• Ba’sha died.

• Ba’sha’s son Eilah ruled over Yisrael for the next two years.

• Eilah was killed by his chief general, Zimri, when Eilah was in a drunken stupor.

• Zimri ruled for 7 days and wiped out Ba’sha’s entire family in accordance with the word of Yehu ben Chanani.

• Amri, Zimri’s general, usurped the throne by killing Zimri. (Note: as Amri was the general of the army, Amri had the military behind him.)

• Yisrael split into 2 parts: half supported Tivni ben Ginas and half supported Amri.

• Amri defeated Tivni and ruled over the entire Yisrael for a total of twelve years.

• Amri’s son, Achav, became the next king of Yisrael.

• Amri ruled over Yisrael for 23 years.

• Achav was worse than all the other kings of Yisrael combined.

• Achav married Princess Izevel.

• A man named Che’ail rebuilt the “cursed city” of Yericho nearly 500 years after Yehoshua had cursed the city.

• Che’ail’s children died, starting with the laying of the foundation until the hanging of the doors. This was in accordance with curse Yehoshua had placed on whoever would rebuild the city of Yericho.

Lineage of Yisrael so far: Yiravam, Nadav, Baasha, Eilah, Zimri, Amri, (Tivni for a short while,) and Achav.

Melachim I Perek 17

• Eliyahu Hanavi decreed, in the presence of King Achav, that there would be a drought, and he ordered the rain to stop.

Radak, Rashi and Metzudos explain: Eliyahu was in conversation with Achav. Eliyahu related to Achav that the curse of Yehoshua had come true after Che’ail rebuilt the “cursed city” of Yericho, and his children had all died. Achav pointed out that it seems that Yehoshua was greater than Moshe because while Yehoshua’s curse came true, Moshe’s didn’t, as it says in the Torah: Hashem will cause there to be no rain for the sin of idol worship! Immediately Eliyahu decreed that the rain should stop.

• Hashem told Eliyahu to go to the brook named K’ris, where Eliyahu would be sustained miraculously by ravens that would bring him food while the brook would provide water.

• One year later the brook dried up due to lack of rain.

• Hashem then told Eliyahu to go to another location where he would encounter a widow who would sustain him.

• Eliyahu met the widow and asked her for a cookie and water.

• She told him that she could only give him water, but no food, as she only had enough flour and oil for one cookie, which she was saving to eat with her son before they both died of hunger.

• Eliyahu told the woman to make him a cookie first and Hashem would make a miracle happen that her flour and oil would not run out for as long as there was no rain.

• This occurred for about one year.

• The woman’s child died, and she called Eliyahu for help.

• Eliyahu carried the boy upstairs, prayed to Hashem to restore the boy’s soul, and prostrated himself on the boy three times, until the boy came back to life. Eliyahu returned the boy to his mother.

Pirkei Rebbi Eliezer: this boy was Yonah, the future Navi!)

Melachim I Perek 18

• After three years of drought Hashem told Eliyahu to tell Achav that Hashem was going to make it rain.

• In the meantime, Achav had split up the land between himself and Ovadyahu, his servant, to search the land for food for the cattle.

Note: Ovadyahu, at great personal risk, had saved the lives of 100 true prophets by hiding them in 2 caves and sustaining them with food and water.

• Izevel, Achav’s wife, had ordered the true prophets to be killed.

• Eliyahu appeared to Ovadyahu and instructed him to tell Achav that Eliyahu wants to meet with him.

• Ovadyahu was hesitant to do so at first, for fear that Eliyahu would not show up to the meeting and Achav would have him killed, but he consented after Eliyahu promised that he would appear.

• Eliyahu came to Achav. Achav spoke to Eliyahu in a contemptuous manner.

• Elyahu challenged Achav to a “show down” between the false prophets and Eliyahu to see whose “G-d” would accept the sacrifices brought on the altar.

Note: it’s beyond the scope of this summary to delve into how Eliyahu was allowed to build and utilize a bama (private altar) when it was strictly forbidden to use bamas at this time.

• The prophets of Baal tried to pray to Baal for 3 days, but failed to receive any response from Baal. They even resorted to self-mutilation.

• Eliyahu called the nation to come close so that they would all see the miracle about to occur. Eliyahu rebuilt the altar and had his attendant, Elisha, dig a ditch around the altar and pour water on the wood, which was placed on top of the alter.

• Eliyahu prayed to Hashem. A fire came down and consumed his offering for all of Yisrael to see that Hashem is the true master of the world and the source of all life.

• Eliyahu proceeded to kill the prophets of Baal.

• Eliyahu told Achav to make a feast.

• Rain had begun to fall.

• Elisha, Eliyahu’s attendant, was watching for the rain.

• Achav then fled to his wife, Izevel.

Melachim I Perek 19

• After seeing the miracles that Eliyahu had performed, Achav ran to Izevel, his wife.

• Izevel swore to have Eliyahu killed.

• Eliyahu fled for his life and ran to Be’er Sheva. Eliyahu then traveled even further by himself, leaving his attendant behind.

• Eliyahu prayed for his soul to be taken, as Eliyahu was being pursued to be killed.

• An angel woke Eliyahu up and showed Eliyahu that, miraculously, bread and water were next to him.

• Again, an angel woke Eliyahu up and told Eliyahu to eat his fill of the food.

• Eliyahu traveled for forty days and forty nights, until he reached Har Chorev, which is Har Sinai, and he spent the night in a cave.

• Eliyahu related to Hashem that he had fervently fulfilled the word of G-d, and he now remains the lone prophet.

• Hashem then made the wind blow, the earth quake, and fire burn, but Hashem was not in them; He was to be found in the thin, still, quiet voice.

• Eliyahu then covered his face with his cloak. (Radak, Metsudos: to conceal the divine light that was radiating from his face, just as Moshe had done after receiving the Torah.)

• Hashem told Eliyahu to annoint Chaza’el as king of Aram, Yehu ben Nimshi as king of Yisrael, and Elisha ben Shaphat as the new prophet. Note: Chaza’el and Yehu were set in place to kill off the “sinners of Yisrael”. Elisha was to replace Eliyahu as navi, and he would kill the people who had escaped from Chaza’el and Yehu.

• Eliyahu then went to anoint Elisha.

• Elisha bade his parents farewell, and he fed the people who were with him a feast prior to his leaving with Eliyahu.

Melachim I Perek 20

• Ben Hadad, King of Aram, garnered the support of 32 kings to fight against Yisrael.

• Ben Hadad sent a message to Achav, King of Yisrael, to surrender all of his gold, silver, men, women and children. Achav initially consented, but subsequently refused, when Ben Hadad wanted Achav to surrender a Sefer Torah (Rashi), and after consulting with the elders of Yisrael.

• A Prophet by the name of Michayahu Ben Yimla (Rashi, Metzudos) told Achav that he would miraculously win the ensuing battle against Ben Hadad through the “children of the officers”. (Radak explains these were the children of high-ranking officials who grew up in close proximity to the royalty. This was to highlight the miracle of the battle, as the “new crew” was not trained in military prowess.)

• The “new crew” was a mere 232 people, while Yisrael was 7,000 men in total.

• Ben Hadad was miraculously defeated in the first battle.

• Michayahu Ben Yimla told Achav to prepare himself for the next battle against Ben Hadad, which would occur in approximately one year’s time.

• In preparation for the next battle, Ben Hadad reasoned that Yisrael would be more easily defeated in the low lands, because “Hashem is only the G-d of the mountains, not of the plains.”

• Yisrael killed 100,000 foot soldiers in one day. The remaining 27,000 survivors of Aram were miraculously crushed all at once by the city wall of Aphek, which collapsed on them.

• Ben Hadad fled and went into hiding.

• Ben Hadad surrendered to Achav.

• Achav mistakenly accepted Ben Hadad’s surrender and cut a peace treaty with him after Ben Hadad returned many cities to Achav.

• Michayahu Ben Yimla disguised himself and delivered a message in a parable, pretending to be a soldier who was supposed to have guarded an enemy but negligently allowed the enemy to escape.

• Upon hearing the case, Achav ruled that the negligent soldier was deserving of death.

• Michayhu Ben Yimla then revealed his true identity and told Achav that he would die for not having killed Ben Hadad.

Melachim I Perek 21

• Achav wanted to either buy or make a trade for the vineyard of a man named Navos.

• Navos refused the deal and responded with a sharp retort.

• Achav came home depressed and told Izevel, his wife, what had happened.

• Izevel devised a plan without Achav’s knowledge, to get the field from Navos.

• The plan: Falsify legal documents with Achav’s signature for a communal fast day. Seat two thugs next to Navos. Have them give false testimony that Navos cursed the king and is therefore deserving of death. Have Navos stoned to death.

• The plan was carried out and the innocent Navos was killed.

• Izevel told Achav that the vineyard was now his.

• (Prior to this, Achav had become a decadent, depressed and debased individual, running after his heart’s desire and idol worship. Izevel had caused Achav to descend further than he would have done of his own accord.)

• Eliyahu delivered a prophecy that every male member of Achav’s family would be killed, including Achav. And Izevel would be eaten by dogs.

• Achav donned sack cloth, walked bare foot, and humbled himself before Hashem.

• Hashem told Eliyahu, that Achav had mitigated part of the harsh decree and that the decree would only occur after Achav’s death, to his children.

Melachim I Perek 22 – The Siyum Perek. You did it!

As we finish another Sefer of Nach, it is certainly fitting to raise your level of simcha! I would like to thank all the NachDaily subscribers for spreading NachDaily and making NachDaily possible. We have been learning about the splitting of the kingship between Yehudah and Yisrael. We should merit to find the good in every Jew and spread “brotherly love” with the ultimate uniting of Am Yisrael in Eretz Yisrael with the restoration of the true kingship of King Mashiach in our days.

• There was peace between the two kingdoms of Yisrael and Yehudah.

• Achav, king of Yisrael, wanted Yehoshaphat, king of Yehudah, to join him in battle against Aram, and reclaim the city of Ramot Gilad.

• Yehoshaphat wanted Achav to ask a prophet if this was a good idea.

• Many prophets were asked and they unanimously agreed that Bnai Yisroel would win the war.

• Yehoshaphat immediately understood that they were false prophets. (Radak- Each prophet has his own unique style of prophecy, and here all of the prophets used identical words.)

• The true prophet, Michayhu ben Yimlah, was consulted.

• Michayhu prophesied that the war would be lost, with one of the kings dying.

• Tzidkiyah, a false prophet, challenged Michayhu ben Yimlah and slapped Michayhu in the face.

• Achav had Michayhu ben Yimlah imprisoned.

• Prior to the war Achav removed his royal clothing and Yehoshaphat kept his on.

• The king of Aram gave his men strict orders to kill only the king.

• A soldier from Aram innocently hit Achav with an arrow. (The soldier was unaware that he had hit the king of Yisrael because Achav was wearing regular armor.)

• Achav died, his blood covering the chariot that he rode.

• Achazyahu, the son of Achav, ruled Yehudah next.

• Achazyahu followed in his father’s evils ways and upset Hashem with idol worship.

• Yehoshaphat, king of Yehudah, died. Yehoram, his son, ruled after him.