1 Kings 15-17

These chapters follow with the history of the split of the kingdom of Israel at about the 2nd generation after the death of Jeroboam (Ephraimite king of northern Israel) and Rehoboam (Solomon's son, king over the tribes of Judah, Simeon, some Benjamin, and some of Levi). 

In these chapters I've learned a lot about the northern tribes history. The major sins that I see committed are actually not serving other gods until chapter 17. The sins committed in chapters 15-16 were fundamentally worshipping God as a molten image and in shrines and with monuments and poles rather than in the fashion that the Lord had allotted for His Bride. 

There are a series of coupes and rebellions that topple governances in the northern kingdoms and the kings would each continue to push Israel to worship the Lord in Bethel, with shrines and high places, and other cities because they were afraid that if they allowed their people to return to Jerusalem to worship they would reunite with Judah under the house of David. They needed only trust the Lord for their rule, because He is the one who would send a prophecy to each of them, telling them of their rule (especially Jeroboam) or of their destruction because even though the Lord would put them in power, they would cause the people to sin against Him more and more (like Baasha). In effect they would keep on biting the hand that was feeding them. 

But then Omri comes along, apparently the great conqueror of the Northern Kingdom. Several non-Israelite artifacts have been found with his name on them indicating his prowess in combat. One Assyrian artifact even called Israel "the house of Omri." He still caused Israel to sin, established their borders, and then gave birth to one of Israel's more wicked Kings - Ahab who marries Jezebel. 

This is where Kings seems to have a shift in it's plot line. Ahab (I must say that I imagine a spoiled little brat-son of the mighty and sinful Omri) turns now and not only worships God in illegitimate ways with molten images and high places, but turns now to a different deity all together - Baal, at this point in history known to be the god of rain. God doesn't send another prophet to tell the king of his own demise though. Now He turns and tries to teach Ahab and northern Israel that there is no god but Y'hovah - the real God of the rain and all creation with it. He sends Elijah who prophecies the drought.