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.

And Rehoboam came to Jerusalem; and he assembled the house of Judah and Benjamin, a hundred and eighty thousand chosen men apt for war, to fight against Israel, that he might bring the kingdom again to Rehoboam.

2 But the word of YHWH came to Shemaiah the man of God, saying,

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

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

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

4 'Thus says YHWH, "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 YHWH, and returned from going against Jeroboam.

Thus saith Jehovah: Go not up, nor fight with your brethren; return every man to his house; for this thing is from me. And they hearkened to the words of Jehovah, and returned from going against Jeroboam.

5 Rehoboam lived in Jerusalem, and built cities for defense in Judah.

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

6 He built Bethlehem, and Etam, and Tekoa,

And he built Bethlehem, and Etam, and Tekoa,

7 Beth Zur, and Soco, and Adullam,

and Beth-zur, and Soco, and Adullam,

8 and Gath, and Mareshah, and Ziph,

and Gath, and Mareshah, and Ziph,

9 and Adoraim, and Lachish, and Azekah,

and Adoraim, and Lachish, and Azekah,

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

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

11 He fortified the strongholds, and put captains in them, and stores of food, and oil and wine.

And he fortified the strongholds, and put captains in them, and stores of victuals, and of oil and wine;

12 He put shields and spears in every city, and made them exceeding strong. Judah and Benjamin belonged to him.

and in every several city, targets and spears, and made them exceedingly strong. And Judah and Benjamin were his.

13 The priests and the Levites who were in all Israel resorted to him out of all their border.

And the priests and the Levites that were in all Israel resorted to him out of all their districts;

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 YHWH;

for the Levites left their suburbs and their possessions, and came to Judah and Jerusalem: for Jeroboam and his sons had cast them off from exercising the priesthood to Jehovah;

15 and he appointed him priests for the high places, and for the male goats, and for the calves which he had made.

and he ordained for himself priests for the high places, and for the he-goats and for the calves that he had made.

16 After them, out of all the tribes of Israel, such as set their hearts to seek YHWH, the God of Israel, came to Jerusalem to sacrifice to YHWH, the God of their fathers.

— And after them, those out of all the tribes of Israel that set their heart to seek Jehovah the God of Israel came to Jerusalem, to sacrifice to Jehovah the God of their fathers.

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.

And they strengthened the kingdom of Judah, and made Rehoboam the son of Solomon strong three years; for during three years they walked in 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;

And Rehoboam took Mahalath the daughter of Jerimoth the son of David as wife, [and of] Abihail the daughter of Eliab the son of Jesse.

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

And she bore him children: Jeush, and Shemariah, and Zaham.

20 After her he took Maacah the daughter of Absalom; and she bore him Abijah, and Attai, and Ziza, and Shelomith.

And after her he took Maachah the daughter of Absalom; and she bore him Abijah, and Attai, and 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.)

And Rehoboam loved Maachah the daughter of Absalom above all his wives and his concubines; for he had taken eighteen wives and sixty concubines, and he begot 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.

And Rehoboam established Abijah the son of Maachah at the head, to be ruler among his brethren; for [he thought] 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.

And he dealt wisely, and dispersed of all his sons throughout all the lands of Judah and Benjamin, to all the fortified cities; and he gave them food in abundance. And he desired [for them] a multitude of wives.