These chapters follow the evil king Manasseh and the Godly king Josiah. The difference in their leadership is not only a testimony of what God expects from us, but also a testimony that our fate is not bound to those who raise us. We are free to choose (or reject) God regardless of our parentage.

Elijah's grand translation from Earth to Heaven.

1 Kings 21 shows us the true treachery of Queen Jezebel--she is probably the source of the phrase "I'd kill for it."

1 Kings 20 tells us about the beginning of a war between Syria and the northern kingdom. As we saw in the previous chapter, God was setting up a revival of the nation through Elijah, Elisha, Hazael, and Jehu, but in order to accomplish this, Benhadad, the current king of Syria, had to be dealt with.

1 Kings 17-20 takes a break from a series of brief records which introduces many kings to focus on God's prophet, Elijah who lived during King Ahab's reign in the northern kingdom.