2 Chronicles 11

1 And when Rehoboam was come to Ierusalem, he gathered of the house of Iudah and Beniamin nine score thousande chosen men of warre to fight against Israel, and to bring the kingdome againe to Rehoboam.

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.

2 But the worde of the Lord came to Shemaiah the man of God, saying,

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

3 Speake vnto Rehoboam, the sonne of Salomon King of Iudah, and to all Israel that are in Iudah, and Beniamin, saying,

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

4 Thus sayth the Lord, Ye shall not goe vp, nor fight against your brethren: returne euery man to his house: for this thing is done of me. They obeyed therfore the word of the Lord, and returned from going against Ieroboam.

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.

5 And Rehoboam dwelt in Ierusalem, and buylt strong cities in Iudah.

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

6 Hee buylt also Beth-lehem, and Etam, and Tekoa,

He built up Bethlehem, Etam, Tekoa,

7 And Beth-zur, and Shoco, and Adullam,

Beth-zur, Soco, Adullam,

8 And Gath, and Maresha, and Ziph,

Gath, Mareshah, Ziph,

9 And Adoraim, and Lachish, and Azekah,

Adoraim, Lachish, Azekah,

10 And Zorah, and Aialon, and Hebron, which were in Iudah and Beniamin, strong cities.

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

11 And he repaired the strong holdes and put captaines in them, and store of vitaile, and oyle and wine.

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

12 And in all cities he put shieldes and speares, and made them exceeding strong: so Iudah and Beniamin were his.

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

13 And the Priests and the Leuites that were in all Israel, resorted vnto him out of all their coastes.

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

14 For the Leuites left their suburbes and their possession, and came to Iudah and to Ierusalem: for Ieroboam and his sonnes had cast them out from ministring in the Priestes office vnto the Lord.

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.

15 And he ordeyned him Priests for the hie places, and for the deuils and for the calues which he had made.

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

16 And after the Leuites there came to Ierusalem of all the tribes of Israel, such as set their heartes to seeke the Lord God of Israel, to offer vnto the Lord God of their fathers.

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.

17 So they strengthened the kingdome of Iudah, and made Rehoboam the sonne of Salomon mightie, three yeere long: for three yeere they walked in in the way of Dauid and Salomon.

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.

18 And Rehoboam tooke him Mahalath ye daughter of Ierimoth the sonne of Dauid to wife, and Abihail the daughter of Eliab the sonne of Ishai,

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

19 Which bare him sonnes Ieush, and Shemariah, and Zaham.

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

20 And after her he tooke Maakah ye daughter of Absalom which bare him Abiiah, and Atthai, and Ziza, and Shelomith.

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

21 And Rehoboam loued Maakah ye daughter of Absalom aboue all his wiues and his concubines: for he tooke eighteene wiues, and three score concubines, and begate eyght and twentie sonnes, and three score daughters.

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.

22 And Rehoboam made Abiiah the sonne of Maakah the chiefe ruler among his brethren: for he thought to make him King.

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

23 And he taught him: and dispersed all his sonnes throughout all the countreis of Iudah and Beniamin vnto euery strong citie: and hee gaue them aboundance of vitaile, and desired many wiues.

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.