Rabbinical and Church tradition says Jeremiah may have been the author of 1 Kings. No one knows for sure. Jeremiah was qualified to do such a task, being a priest and prophet. He would have direct access to government manuscripts of these events in the history of Israel. Others believe it may have been Ezra or Ezekiel. It was written in the 6th century B.C.

It is believed 1 and 2 Kings were collected from information contained in several other manuscripts, which included The Book of the Acts of Solomon (1 Kgs 11:41), The Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel, and The Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah. These last two books were the official record of the two kingdoms, when Israel became divided into the northern(Israel) and southern(Judah) kingdoms. They are cited throughout 1 Kings. 1-2 Samuel, 1-2 Kings, 1-2 Chronicles are part of the historical books of Israel.
The book of 1 Kings starts with the the end of the rein of David’s kingdom, at his death then the beginning Solomon’s kingdom. After the death of Solomon, it is the record of the division of Israel into two separate kingdoms.

This book follows the reign and lives of a succession of kings in both kingdoms. We will see some good,bad, and the ugly kings. Often the kings are compared to David as he set the standard of being a godly Jewish king. We will see the blessings flow while one follows and serves God, and the troubles and trials when one rebels, disobeys, and rejects God. We will meet the prophet Elijah, as he boldly stands his ground and speaks for the Lord and confronts idolatry headline within in the people and the corrupted leaders.