Melachim Alef (I Kings) is the first part of Sefer Melachim, the fourth book of Neviim (the Prophets). It tells of King Shlomo (Solomon), son of King David, and the Beit HaMikdash (the Holy Temple) he builds, the split of the kingdom, and the kings of Yehudah (Judah) and Yisrael up to the death of Achav (Ahab).
King David grows old, and when Adoniyahu tries to take the throne, David has Shlomo anointed. At Givon (Gibeon) Shlomo asks Hashem for an understanding heart to judge the people, and he receives wisdom, wealth and honor. His judgment between two women over one baby is the famous example.
With cedar from Chiram (Hiram) king of Tzor (Tyre), Shlomo builds the Beit HaMikdash. The Aron (Ark) is brought into the Kodesh HaKodashim (Holy of Holies), the cloud of Hashem fills the house, and Shlomo prays that Hashem will hear every tefillah (prayer) said toward it. Hashem sanctifies the house and warns that it will be destroyed if Yisrael turns to other gods.
In Shlomo's old age his wives turn his heart toward their gods, and the Navi counts it as evil (the Gemara in Shabbat 56b says that Shlomo did not sin himself, but is faulted for not stopping them). His son Rechavam (Rehoboam) refuses to lighten the people's burden, and ten shevatim (tribes) make Yeravam (Jeroboam) ben Nevat their king. Yeravam sets up golden calves at Beit El and Dan to keep the people from Yerushalayim (Jerusalem), the sin for which the Navi faults the kings of Yisrael after him.
Kings of Yehudah and Yisrael reign in turn, and in Yisrael one house after another falls until Omri builds Shomron (Samaria). His son Achav marries Izevel (Jezebel) and serves the Baal. Eliyahu (Elijah) brings a drought, defeats the neviim of the Baal on Har HaCarmel (Mount Carmel), and is told at Chorev (Horeb) to appoint Elisha in his place. Achav takes the vineyard of Navot (Naboth) after Izevel has him killed, and he dies in battle at Ramot Gilad, as Michayhu (Micaiah) the navi warned.
Melachim Alef has twenty-two perakim. Ten of its passages are haftarot, for Parshat Chayei Sarah, Vayechi, Mikeitz, Terumah, Vayakhel, Pekudei, Ki Tisa and Pinchas, for the second Shabbat of Chanukah, the second day of Sukkot (outside Israel) and Shmini Atzeret.