2 Chronicles 11

1 When Rehoboam had come to Jerusalem, he assembled the house of Judah and Benjamin, one hundred eighty thousand chosen men, who were warriors, to fight against Israel, to bring the kingdom again 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, saying,

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

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

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

4 'Thus says the LORD, "You shall not go up, nor fight against your brothers. Return every man to his house; for this thing is of me."'" So they listened to the word of the LORD, and returned 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 lived in Jerusalem, and built cities for defense in Judah.

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

6 He built Bethlehem, and Etam, and Tekoa,

He built up Bethlehem, Etam, Tekoa,

7 Beth Zur, and Soco, and Adullam,

Beth-zur, Soco, Adullam,

8 and Gath, and Mareshah, and Ziph,

Gath, Mareshah, Ziph,

9 and Adoraim, and Lachish, and Azekah,

Adoraim, Lachish, Azekah,

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

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

11 He fortified the strongholds, and put captains in them, and stores of food, and 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 put shields and spears in every city, and made them exceeding strong. 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 The priests and the Levites who were in all Israel resorted to him out of all their border.

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

14 For the Levites left their suburbs and their possession, and came to Judah and Jerusalem: for Jeroboam and his sons cast them off, that they should not execute the priest's office to 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 he appointed him priests for the high places, and for the male goats, and for the calves which he had made.

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

16 After them, out of all the tribes of Israel, such as set their hearts to seek the LORD, the God of Israel, came 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 made Rehoboam the son of Solomon strong, three years; for they walked 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 Rehoboam took him a wife, Mahalath the daughter of Jerimoth the son of David, and of Abihail the daughter of Eliab the son of Jesse;

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

19 and she bore him sons: Jeush, and Shemariah, and Zaham.

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

20 After her he took Maacah the daughter of Absalom; and she bore him Abijah, and Attai, and 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 the daughter of Absalom above all his wives and his secondary wives: (for he took eighteen wives, and sixty secondary wives, and became 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 the son of Maacah to be chief, the prince among his brothers; for he intended to make him king.

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

23 He dealt wisely, and dispersed of all his sons throughout all the lands of Judah and Benjamin, to every fortified city: and he gave them food in abundance. He sought for them many wives.

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.