Poole's Summary of 1 Kings

This book begins with the events of the life of Solomon; yet with narration added in the beginning showing how Solomon came to the Kingdom.  I compare Numa[1] to Solomon:  Both were led by a certain fate; both were wise; both built a temple; both introduced external ceremonies.  Numa left after him sons as private citizens; Solomon a Royal son of a concubine.[2]  Once the Kingdom is divided in two, you will see that all the Kings of Israel are bad.  With respect to the Kings of Judah, some are bad; quite a number are mediocre; just so many are good as could be easily inscribed on a signet ring (Grotius[3]).  Hitherto it has been treated of the kingdom of the Israelites united under one King, but now of the divided Kingdom; nevertheless, the kingdom of Solomon is here set forth, because the cause of the schism had to be shown (Martyr[4]).

[1] Numa Pompilius is the legendary second king of Rome, successor to Romulus.

[2] See 1 Kings 14:21; 2 Chronicles 12:13.  According to Jewish tradition, Naamah the Ammonitess, Rehoboam’s mother, was one of Solomon’s concubines, and not a full wife.

[3] Hugo Grotius (1583-1645) distinguished himself in the field of international law, but he was interested in many fields of learning, including Christian apologetics, theology, and Biblical criticism and exegesis.  He was a strict practitioner of the historical-contextual method of exegesis, and both his methods and conclusions are on display in his influential Annotationibus in Vetus et Novum Testamentum.  He is also remembered for his role in the Arminian controversy, siding with the Remonstrants, and for his governmental theory of atonement.

[4] Peter Martyr Vermigli (1499-1562) began his career as an Augustinian monk, preacher, and lecturer in Italy.  Through personal study of the Scripture and the Reformers, he came to embrace the Protestant doctrines.  He settled in England and served as Professor of Divinity at Oxford and as Canon of Christ Church.  Unhappily, he was forced to flee from England as well, when Mary Tudor took the throne.  He settled in Zurich and became Professor of Divinity there.  Vermigli wrote In Duos Libros Samuelis Prophetæ Commentarios Doctissimos, and Melachim, id est, Regum Libros Duos Posteriores.