2 Chronicles 11

1 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.

And when Rehoboam was come to Jerusalem, he gathered of the house of Judah and Benjamin an hundred and fourscore thousand chosen [men], which were warriors, to fight against Israel, that he might bring the kingdom again to Rehoboam.

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

But the word of the LORD came to Shemaiah the man of God, saying,

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

Speak unto Rehoboam the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and to all Israel in Judah and Benjamin, saying,

4 ‘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.

Thus saith the LORD, Ye shall not go up, nor fight against your brethren: return every man to his house: for this thing is done of me. And they obeyed the words of the LORD, and returned from going against Jeroboam.

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

And Rehoboam dwelt in Jerusalem, and built cities for defence in Judah.

6 He built up Bethlehem, Etam, Tekoa,

He built even Beth-lehem, and Etam, and Tekoa,

7 Beth-zur, Soco, Adullam,

And Beth-zur, and Shoco, and Adullam,

8 Gath, Mareshah, Ziph,

And Gath, and Mareshah, and Ziph,

9 Adoraim, Lachish, Azekah,

And Adoraim, and Lachish, and Azekah,

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

And Zorah, and Aijalon, and Hebron, which [are] in Judah and in Benjamin fenced cities.

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

And he fortified the strong holds, and put captains in them, and store of victual, and of oil and wine.

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

And in every several city [he put] shields and spears, and made them exceeding strong, having Judah and Benjamin on his side.

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

And the priests and the Levites that [were] in all Israel resorted to him out of all their coasts.

14 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.

For the Levites left their suburbs and their possession, and came to Judah and Jerusalem: for Jeroboam and his sons had cast them off from executing the priest’s office unto the LORD:

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

And he ordained him priests for the high places, and for the devils, and for the calves which he had made.

16 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.

And after them out of all the tribes of Israel such as set their hearts to seek the LORD God of Israel came to Jerusalem, to sacrifice unto the LORD God of their fathers.

17 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.

So they strengthened the kingdom of Judah, and made Rehoboam the son of Solomon strong, three years: for three years they walked in the way of David and Solomon.

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

And Rehoboam took him Mahalath the daughter of Jerimoth the son of David to wife, [and] Abihail the daughter of Eliab the son of Jesse;

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

Which bare him children; Jeush, and Shamariah, and Zaham.

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

And after her he took Maachah the daughter of Absalom; which bare him Abijah, and Attai, and Ziza, and Shelomith.

21 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.

And Rehoboam loved Maachah the daughter of Absalom above all his wives and his concubines: (for he took eighteen wives, and threescore concubines; and begat twenty and eight sons, and threescore daughters.)

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

And Rehoboam made Abijah the son of Maachah the chief, [to be] ruler among his brethren: for [he thought] to make him king.

23 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.

And he dealt wisely, and dispersed of all his children throughout all the countries of Judah and Benjamin, unto every fenced city: and he gave them victual in abundance. And he desired many wives.