1 Kings Bible Trivia: 36 Questions and Answers for Families

These 36 1 Kings Bible trivia questions cover the book's two great acts -- Solomon's golden age with the temple and the queen of Sheba, then the kingdom splitting in two and Elijah's showdown with the prophets of Baal. Answers with verse references follow every question, sorted into easy, medium, and hard rounds by age.

1 Kings has some of the best trivia material in the Old Testament: a baby nearly cut in half, fire falling from heaven, ravens running a food delivery service, and a king brought down by one random arrow. The hard round includes numbers that surprise almost every adult.

What Is the Book of 1 Kings About?

The book of 1 Kings tells how Israel rose to its golden age under Solomon and then tore in two -- covering roughly 970 to 850 BC, from David's death through the reign of Ahab and the ministry of the prophet Elijah. The author is anonymous; Jewish tradition attributes Kings to the prophet Jeremiah, and 1 and 2 Kings were originally one book in the Hebrew Bible.

The book pivots at chapter 11: Solomon, the wisest man alive, lets his heart be turned to other gods, and within a generation the united kingdom splits into Israel in the north and Judah in the south. From then on, 1 Kings measures every ruler by a single standard -- did he follow the LORD or not -- and sends prophets like Elijah to confront the kings who didn't. It matters because it shows kids that wisdom, wealth, and even a great start are no substitute for a heart that stays faithful.

Easy 1 Kings Trivia Questions (Ages 5-8)

1. Which king asked God for wisdom instead of money or long life? Solomon (1 Kings 3:9-12)
2. Who was Solomon's famous father? King David (1 Kings 1:13, 30; 2:12)
3. What great building did Solomon build for God in Jerusalem? The temple (1 Kings 6:1-2)
4. Which prophet was fed by ravens during a long drought? Elijah (1 Kings 17:4-6)
5. What did the ravens bring Elijah? Bread and meat, every morning and every evening (1 Kings 17:6)
6. On what mountain did Elijah challenge the prophets of Baal? Mount Carmel (1 Kings 18:19-20)
7. What did God send down from heaven onto Elijah's water-soaked altar? Fire (1 Kings 18:38)
8. Which queen traveled a long way to test Solomon with hard questions? The queen of Sheba (1 Kings 10:1)
9. What two foods never ran out for the widow who fed Elijah? Her flour and her oil (1 Kings 17:14-16)
10. When God spoke to Elijah on the mountain, was he in the wind, the earthquake, the fire -- or something else? Something else: a gentle whisper (a still small voice) (1 Kings 19:11-12)

Medium 1 Kings Trivia Questions (Ages 9-12)

1. Which of Solomon's older brothers tried to grab the throne while David was still alive? Adonijah (1 Kings 1:5)
2. When two women both claimed the same baby, what did Solomon order? "Cut the living child in two and give half to each" (1 Kings 3:24-25)
3. How did that command reveal the real mother? She begged Solomon to give the baby to the other woman rather than let him be harmed (1 Kings 3:26-27)
4. How many proverbs did Solomon speak? Three thousand -- plus 1,005 songs (1 Kings 4:32)
5. Which foreign king supplied the cedar logs for the temple? Hiram, king of Tyre (1 Kings 5:10)
6. How many years did it take Solomon to build the temple? Seven (1 Kings 6:38)
7. What filled the temple when the ark was brought in at the dedication? A cloud -- the glory of the LORD (1 Kings 8:10-11)
8. What did the queen of Sheba say after seeing Solomon's wisdom and palace? "Not even half was told me" (1 Kings 10:7)
9. How many wives did Solomon have? Seven hundred wives and three hundred concubines (1 Kings 11:3)
10. What went badly wrong in Solomon's old age? His wives turned his heart after other gods (1 Kings 11:4)
11. How many tribes broke away to follow Jeroboam when the kingdom split? Ten (1 Kings 11:31; 12:20)
12. What did King Jeroboam set up at Bethel and Dan so people wouldn't worship in Jerusalem? Two golden calves (1 Kings 12:28-29)
13. Who was the wicked foreign queen who married King Ahab and pushed Baal worship in Israel? Jezebel (1 Kings 16:31)

Hard 1 Kings Trivia Questions (Teens and Adults)

1. Whose harsh answer split the kingdom -- and whose advice did he reject? Rehoboam's; he rejected the elders' counsel and followed his young friends, promising to scourge Israel "with scorpions" (1 Kings 12:8, 13-14)
2. Which prophet tore his new cloak into twelve pieces and gave ten to Jeroboam? Ahijah of Shiloh (1 Kings 11:29-31)
3. How many prophets of Baal did Elijah face on Mount Carmel? Four hundred fifty (1 Kings 18:22)
4. What did Elijah have poured over his sacrifice before praying -- and how much? Water -- four large jars, three times over (1 Kings 18:33-34)
5. What did the people cry out when the fire fell? "The LORD -- he is God! The LORD -- he is God!" (1 Kings 18:39)
6. On the seventh look, what did Elijah's servant finally see over the sea? A cloud as small as a man's hand, rising from the sea -- the end of the drought (1 Kings 18:44)
7. How many people in Israel did God say had never bowed to Baal, when Elijah thought he was the only one left? Seven thousand (1 Kings 19:18)
8. What was Elisha doing when Elijah threw his cloak around him? Plowing with twelve yoke of oxen (1 Kings 19:19)
9. Whose vineyard did Ahab covet, and how did Jezebel get it for him? Naboth's -- she arranged false witnesses so Naboth was stoned to death (1 Kings 21:1-13)
10. Which lone prophet told Ahab the truth about the battle at Ramoth Gilead? Micaiah son of Imlah (1 Kings 22:8, 17)
11. How did King Ahab die, even though he went into battle in disguise? A soldier drew his bow "at random" and the arrow hit Ahab between the sections of his armor (1 Kings 22:34, 37)
12. When did Solomon begin building the temple? In the 480th year after Israel came out of Egypt -- the fourth year of his reign (1 Kings 6:1)
13. What sound was never heard at the temple site during construction? No hammer, chisel, or any iron tool -- the stones were finished at the quarry (1 Kings 6:7)

How to Use These Questions

This book splits neatly into two trivia nights: Solomon (questions 1-3, 8, 11-23) and Elijah (questions 4-7, 9-10, 26-31) -- or run it as one long game and let the "gentle whisper" question decide the tie. For team play, scoring, and prize ideas, see our family Bible trivia night guide.

For story prep, the episode-length tellings of Solomon asking for wisdom, the queen of Sheba's visit, the kingdom splitting, Elijah and the ravens, and fire from heaven on Mount Carmel cover most of this list. Our video lessons at Faithful Kids walk kids through the whole kings-and-prophets era with a quiz after every episode.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who wrote the book of 1 Kings?

The book of 1 Kings is anonymous -- it never names its author. Jewish tradition attributes Kings to the prophet Jeremiah, and most scholars agree it was compiled from royal records (which the book itself cites, like "the book of the annals of the kings of Israel") during or after the Babylonian exile.

How many chapters does 1 Kings have?

1 Kings has 22 chapters. Chapters 1-11 cover Solomon's reign and the temple, and chapters 12-22 cover the divided kingdom, from Rehoboam and Jeroboam through Ahab, Jezebel, and the prophet Elijah.

What is the most famous story in 1 Kings?

Elijah's contest with the 450 prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel (1 Kings 18) is the book's most famous story -- fire falls from heaven onto a water-drenched altar and the people cry, "The LORD -- he is God!" Solomon's baby-splitting judgment (1 Kings 3) is a close second.

Why did Israel split into two kingdoms in 1 Kings?

Israel split because Solomon's heart turned to other gods, so God declared he would tear the kingdom away (1 Kings 11:11-13) -- and because Solomon's son Rehoboam then threatened the people with harsher labor instead of listening to them (1 Kings 12:13-16). Ten tribes followed Jeroboam and became the northern kingdom of Israel, while Judah stayed under David's line in Jerusalem.

What did Solomon ask God for in 1 Kings?

Solomon asked for "a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong" (1 Kings 3:9). Because he asked for wisdom rather than long life, riches, or victory, God gave him the wisdom -- and added riches and honor on top (1 Kings 3:11-13).

What age can kids start learning 1 Kings?

Ages 5-8 can start with Solomon's wisdom, the temple, and Elijah's miracles -- the easy round here. Stories like Naboth's vineyard and Ahab's death involve injustice and violence better discussed with ages 9-12 and up, where they spark great conversations about courage and truth-telling.