Chronicles II 11

1 And Roboam came to Jerusalem; and he assembled Juda and Benjamin, a hundred and eighty thousand young men fit for war, and he waged war with Israel to recover the kingdom to Roboam.

And Roboam came to Jerusalem, and called together all the house of Juda and of Benjamin, a hundred and fourscore thousand chosen men and warriors, to fight against Israel, and to bring back his kingdom to him.

2 And the Word of the Lord came to Samaias the man of God, saying,

And the word of the Lord came to Semeias the man of God, saying:

3 Speak to Roboam the [son] of Solomon, and to all Juda and Benjamin, saying,

Speak to Roboam the son of Solomon the king of Juda, and to all Israel, in Juda and Benjamin:

4 Thus says the Lord, You shall not go up, and you shall not war against your brethren: return every one to his home; for this thing is of me. And they listened to the word of the Lord, and returned from going against Jeroboam.

Thus saith the Lord: You shall not go up, nor fight against your brethren: let every man return to his own house, for by my will this thing has been done. And when they heard the word of the Lord, they returned, and did not go against Jeroboam,

5 And Roboam lived in Jerusalem, and he built walled cities in Judea.

And Roboam dwelt in Jerusalem, and built walled cities in Juda.

6 And he built Bethleem, and Aetan and Thecoe,

And he built Bethlehem, and Etam, and Thecue,

7 and Baethsura, and Sochoth, and Odollam,

And Bethsur, and Socho, and Odollam,

8 and Geth, and Marisa, and Ziph,

And Geth, and Maresa, and Ziph,

9 and Adorai, and Lachis, and Azeca,

And Aduram, and Lachis, and Azecha,

10 and Saraa, and Aelom, and Chebron, which belong to Juda and Benjamin, walled cities.

Saraa also, and Aialon, and Hebron, which are in Juda and Benjamin, well fenced cities.

11 And he fortified them with walls, and placed in them captains, and stores of provisions, oil and wine,

And when he had enclosed them with walls, he put in them governors and storehouses of provisions, that is, of oil and of wine.

12 shields and spears in every several city, and he fortified them very strongly, and he had on his side Juda and Benjamin.

Moreover in every city he made an armoury of shields and spears, and he fortified them with great diligence, and he reigned over Juda, and Benjamin,

13 And the priests and the Levites who were in all Israel were gathered to him out of all the coasts.

And the priests and Levites, that were in all Israel, came to him out of all their seats,

14 For the Levites left the tents of their possession, and went to Juda to Jerusalem, because Jeroboam and his sons had ejected them so that they should not minister to the Lord.

Leaving their suburbs, and their possessions, and passing over to Juda, and Jerusalem, because Jeroboam and his sons had cast them off, from executing the priestly office to the Lord.

15 And he made for himself priests of the high places, and for the idols, and for the vanities, and for the calves which Jeroboam made.

And he made to himself priests for the high places, and for the devils, and for the calves which he had made.

16 And he cast out from the tribes of Israel those who set their heart to seek the Lord God of Israel: and they came to Jerusalem, to sacrifice to the Lord God of their fathers.

Moreover out of all the tribes of Israel, whosoever gave their heart to seek the Lord the God of Israel, came into Jerusalem to sacrifice their victims before the Lord the God of their fathers.

17 And they strengthened the kingdom of Juda; and [Juda] strengthened Roboam the [son] of Solomon for three years, for he walked three years in the ways of David and Solomon.

And they strengthened the kingdom of Juda, and established Roboam the son of Solomon for three years: for they walked in the ways of David and of Solomon, only three years.

18 And Roboam took to himself for a wife, Moolath daughter of Jerimuth the son of David, and Abigaia daughter of Heliab the son of Jessae.

And Roboam took to wife Mahalath, the daughter of Jerimoth the son of David: and Abihail the daughter of Eliab the son of Isai.

19 And she bore him sons; Jeus, and Samoria, and Zaam.

And they bore him sons Jehus, and Somorias, and Zoom.

20 And afterwards he took to himself Maacha the daughter of Abessalom; and she bore him Abia, and Jetthi, and Zeza, and Salemoth.

And after her he married Maacha the daughter of Absalom, who bore him Abia and Ethai, and Ziza, and Salomith.

21 And Roboam loved Maacha the daughter of Abessalom more than all his wives and all his concubines: for he had eighteen wives and sixty concubines; and he begot twenty-eight sons, and sixty daughters.

And Roboam loved Maacha the daughter of Absalom above all his wives, and concubines: for he had married eighteen wives, and threescore concubines: and he beget eight and twenty sons, and threescore daughters.

22 And he made Abia the son of Maacha chief, [even] a leader among his brethren, for he intended to make him king.

But he put at the head of them Abia the son of Maacha to be the chief ruler over all his brethren: for he meant to make him king,

23 And he was exalted beyond all his [other] sons in all the coasts of Juda and Benjamin, and in the strong cities; and he gave them provisions in great abundance: and he desired many wives.

Because he was wiser and mightier than all his sons, and in all the countries of Juda, and of Benjamin, and in all the walled cities: and he gave them provisions in abundance, and he sought many wives.