2 Chronicles 11

1 And when Rehoboam had entered Jerusalem, he called together the house of Judah and Benjamin, a hundred and eighty thousand chosen men, warriors, —to fight against Israel, to bring back the kingdom 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 Then came the word of Yahweh, unto Shemaiah the man of God, saying:

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

3 Speak unto Rehoboam son of Solomon, king of Judah, —and unto all Israel in Judah and in Benjamin, saying:

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

4 Thus, saith Yahweh, Ye shall not go up neither shall ye fight against your brethren, return every man to his own house, for, from me, hath this thing been brought about. So they hearkened unto the words of Yahweh, and turned back from going 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 And Rehoboam dwelt in Jerusalem, —and built cities for defence, in Judah;

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

6 yea he built Bethlehem and Etam, and Tekoa;

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

7 and Beth-zur and Soco, and Adullam;

And Beth-zur, and Shoco, 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 Benjamin, —as fortified cities.

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

11 And he strengthened the fortified places, —and put therein captains, and stores of food, and oil and wine;

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

12 and, in every several city, shields and spears, and made them exceedingly strong, —thus Judah and Benjamin remained his.

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

13 And, the priests and Levites that were in all Israel, took their stand with him, out of all their boundaries.

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

14 For the Levites left their pasture lands, and their possessions, and came to Judah, and to Jerusalem, —for Jeroboam and his sons cast them off, from ministering as priests unto Yahweh;

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 and appointed for himself priests for the high places, and for the demons—and for the calves which 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 And, after them—out of all the tribes of Israel, such as were setting their heart to seek Yahweh God of Israel, came to Jerusalem, to sacrifice unto Yahweh, God of their fathers.

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 strengthened the kingdom of Judah, and emboldened Rehoboam son of Solomon, for three years, —for they walked in the way of David and Solomon, for three years.

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 And Rehoboam took him to wife, Mahalath, daughter of Jerimoth, son of David, —and Abihail, 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 and she bare him sons, —Jeush and Shamariah and Zaham.

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

20 And, after her, he took Maacah, daughter of Absolom, —and she bare him Abijah, and Attai, and Ziza, and Shelomith.

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

21 And Rehoboam loved Maacah daughter of Absolom, above all his wives and his concubines, for, eighteen wives, took he, and sixty concubines, —and begat 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 So then Rehoboam appointed Abijah son of Maacah as head, to be chief ruler among his brethren, —yea that he might 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 So he took heed, and dispersed all his sons throughout all the lands of Judah and Benjamin, unto all the fortified cities, and gave them food in abundance, —and asked a multitude of wives.

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.