2 Chronicles 11

1 When Rehoboam arrived in Jerusalem, he assembled the house of Judah and Benjamin, 180,000 chosen men who were soldiers, to fight against Israel, to restore the kingdom to Rehoboam.

And Rehoboam comes to Jerusalem, and assembles the house of Judah and Benjamin—one hundred and eighty thousand chosen warriors—to fight with Israel, to bring back the kingdom to Rehoboam.

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

And a word of YHWH is to Shemaiah, a man of God, saying,

3 “Say to Rehoboam son of Solomon, king of Judah, and to all Israel in Judah and Benjamin,

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

4 'Yahweh says this, “You must not attack or make war against your brothers. Everyone must return to his own house, for I have caused this to happen.”'” So they obeyed the words of Yahweh and turned back from attacking Jeroboam.

Thus said YHWH: You do not go up nor fight with your brothers! Let each return to his house, for this thing has been from Me”; and they hear the words of YHWH, and turn back from going against Jeroboam.

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

And Rehoboam dwells in Jerusalem, and builds cities for a bulwark in Judah,

6 He built Bethlehem, Etam, Tekoa,

indeed, he builds Beth-Lehem, and Etam, and Tekoa,

7 Beth Zur, Soko, Adullam,

and Beth-Zur, and Shocho, and Adullam,

8 Gath, Mareshah, Ziph,

and Gath, and Mareshah, and Ziph,

9 Adoraim, Lachish, Azekah,

and Adoraim, and Lachish, and Azekah,

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

and Zorah, and Aijalon, and Hebron, that [are] in Judah and in Benjamin, cities of bulwarks.

11 He fortified the fortresses and put commanders in them, with stores of food, oil, and wine.

And he strengthens the bulwarks, and puts leaders in them, and treasures of food, and oil, and wine,

12 He put shields and spears in all the cities and made them very strong. So Judah and Benjamin belonged to him.

and in each and every city [he puts] bucklers and spears, and strengthens them very greatly; and he has Judah and Benjamin.

13 The priests and the Levites who were in all Israel went over to him from within their borders.

And the priests and the Levites that [are] in all Israel have stationed themselves by him, out of all their border,

14 For the Levites left their pasturelands and property in order to come to Judah and Jerusalem, for Jeroboam and his sons had driven them away, so that they could no longer perform priestly duties for Yahweh.

for the Levites have left their outskirts and their possession, and they come to Judah and to Jerusalem, for Jeroboam and his sons have cast them off from acting as priests for YHWH,

15 Jeroboam appointed for himself priests for the high places and the goat and calf idols he had made.

and he establishes for himself priests for high places, and for goat [idols] and for calf [idols] that he made.

16 People from all the tribes of Israel came after them, those who set their hearts to seek Yahweh, the God of Israel; they came to Jerusalem to sacrifice to Yahweh, the God of their fathers.

And after them, out of all the tribes of Israel, those giving their heart to seek YHWH, God of Israel, have come to Jerusalem to sacrifice to YHWH, God of their father.

17 So they strengthened the kingdom of Judah and made Rehoboam son of Solomon strong during three years, and they walked for three years in the way of David and Solomon.

And they strengthen the kingdom of Judah, and strengthen Rehoboam son of Solomon, for three years, because they walked in the way of David and Solomon for three years.

18 Rehoboam took a wife for himself: Mahalath, the daughter of Jerimoth, David's son, and of Abihail, the daughter of Eliab, Jesse's son.

And Rehoboam takes a wife for himself, Mahalath, child of Jerimoth son of David, [and of] Abigail daughter of Eliab son of Jesse.

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

And she bears sons to him: Jeush, and Shamaria, and Zaham.

20 After Mahalath, Rehoboam took Maacah, Absalom's daughter; she bore him Abijah, Attai, Ziza, and Shelomith.

And after her he has taken Maachah daughter of Absalom, and she bears to him Abijah, and Attai, and Ziza, and Shelomith.

21 Rehoboam loved Maacah, Absalom's daughter, more than all his other wives and his concubines (he took eighteen wives and sixty concubines, and became the father of twenty-eight sons and sixty daughters).

And Rehoboam loves Maachah daughter of Absalom above all his wives and his concubines—for he has taken eighteen wives and sixty concubines—and he begets twenty-eight sons and sixty daughters.

22 Rehoboam appointed Abijah son of Maacah to be chief, a leader among his brothers; he had the thought of making him king.

And Rehoboam appoints Abijah son of Maachah for head, for leader among his brothers, for to cause him to reign.

23 Rehoboam ruled wisely; he scattered all his sons throughout all the land of Judah and Benjamin to every fortified city. He also gave them food in abundance and looked for many wives for them.

And he has understanding, and disperses from all his sons to all lands of Judah and Benjamin, to all cities of the bulwarks, and gives provision in abundance to them; and he asks for a multitude of wives [for them].