2 Chronicles 11

1 When Rehoboam arrived in Jerusalem, he mobilized the house of Judah and Benjamin—180,000 chosen warriors—to fight against Israel and restore the kingdom to Rehoboam.

When Rehoboam arrived in Jerusalem, he gathered the men from the households of Judah and Benjamin— 180,000 chosen warriors—to go and fight against Israel to bring the kingdom back to Rehoboam.

2 But the word of the LORD came to Shemaiah the man of God:

But a message from the Lord came to Shemaiah the man of God that said,

3 “Tell Rehoboam son of Solomon king of Judah and all the Israelites in Judah and Benjamin

“Tell Rehoboam, son of Solomon, king of Judah, and of all the Israelites living in Judah and Benjamin:

4 that this is what the LORD says: ‘You are not to go up and fight against your brothers. Each of you must return home, for this word is from Me.’” So they listened to the words of the LORD and turned back from going against Jeroboam.

‘This is what the Lord says. Don't fight against your relatives. Every one of you, go home! For what has happened is down to me.’” So they obeyed what the Lord told them and did not fight against Jeroboam.

5 Rehoboam continued to live in Jerusalem, and he built up cities for defense in Judah.

Rehoboam stayed in Jerusalem, and he strengthened the defenses of the towns in Judah.

6 He built up Bethlehem, Etam, Tekoa,

He built up Bethlehem, Etam, Tekoa,

7 Beth-zur, Soco, Adullam,

Beth-zur, Soco, Adullam,

8 Gath, Mareshah, Ziph,

Gath, Mareshah, Ziph,

9 Adoraim, Lachish, Azekah,

Adoraim, Lachish, Azekah,

10 Zorah, Aijalon, and Hebron, the fortified cities in Judah and Benjamin.

Zorah, Aijalon and Hebron. These are the fortified towns in Judah and in Benjamin.

11 He strengthened their fortresses and put officers in them, with supplies of food, oil, and wine.

He strengthened their fortresses and put commanders in charge of them, together with supplies of food, olive oil, and wine.

12 He also put shields and spears in all the cities and strengthened them greatly. So Judah and Benjamin belonged to him.

He stored shields and spears in all the towns and made them very strong. So he held Judah and Benjamin under his rule.

13 Moreover, the priests and Levites from all their districts throughout Israel stood with Rehoboam.

However, the priests and Levites throughout Israel chose to side with Rehoboam.

14 For the Levites left their pasturelands and their possessions and went to Judah and Jerusalem, because Jeroboam and his sons had rejected them as priests of the LORD.

The Levites even left their pasturelands and properties behind, and came to Judah and Jerusalem, because Jeroboam and his sons refused to allow them to serve as priests of the Lord.

15 And Jeroboam appointed his own priests for the high places and for the goat demons and calf idols he had made.

Jeroboam chose his own priests for the high places and for the goat and calf idols he had made.

16 Those from every tribe of Israel who had set their hearts to seek the LORD their God followed the Levites to Jerusalem to sacrifice to the LORD, the God of their fathers.

Those from every tribe of Israel who were committed to worshiping their God followed the Levites to Jerusalem to sacrifice to the Lord, the God of their forefathers.

17 So they strengthened the kingdom of Judah and supported Rehoboam son of Solomon for three years, because they walked for three years in the way of David and Solomon.

So they supported the kingdom of Judah and for three years they were loyal to Rehoboam, son of Solomon, because they followed the way of David and Solomon.

18 And Rehoboam married Mahalath, who was the daughter of David’s son Jerimoth and of Abihail, the daughter of Jesse’s son Eliab.

Rehoboam married Mahalath, who was the daughter of David's son Jerimoth and of Abihail, the daughter of Eliab, son of Jesse.

19 She bore sons to him: Jeush, Shemariah, and Zaham.

She was the mother his sons Jeush, and Shamariah, and Zaham.

20 After her, he married Maacah daughter of Absalom, and she bore to him Abijah, Attai, Ziza, and Shelomith.

After her he married Maacah Absalom's daughter, and she was the mother of his sons Abijah, Attai, Ziza, and Shelomith.

21 Rehoboam loved Maacah daughter of Absalom more than all his wives and concubines. In all, he had eighteen wives and sixty concubines, and he was the father of twenty-eight sons and sixty daughters.

Rehoboam loved Maacah Absalom's daughter more than all his other wives and concubines. He had a total of eighteen wives and sixty concubines, twenty-eight sons and sixty daughters.

22 Rehoboam appointed Abijah son of Maacah as chief prince among his brothers, intending to make him king.

Rehoboam made Abijah son of Maacah crown prince among his brothers, planning to make him king.

23 Rehoboam also acted wisely by dispersing some of his sons throughout the districts of Judah and Benjamin, and to all the fortified cities. He gave them abundant provisions and sought many wives for them.

Rehoboam was also wise to place some of his sons throughout the land of Judah and Benjamin, and to all the fortified towns. He gave them plenty of supplies and sought many wives for them. He worked to arrange many wives for them.