2 Chronicles 11

1 And when Rehoboam had come to Jerusalem, he gathered of the house of Judah and Benjamin an hundred and eighty thousand chosen men, who were warriors, to fight against Israel, that he might bring the kingdom again to Rehoboam.

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.

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

But the word of Yahweh 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,

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

4 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 by me. And they obeyed the words of the LORD, and returned from going against Jeroboam.

'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.

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

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

6 He built even Bethlehem, and Etam, and Tekoa,

He built Bethlehem, Etam, Tekoa,

7 And Bethzur, and Shoco, and Adullam,

Beth Zur, Soko, 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 fortified cities in Judah and Benjamin.

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

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

12 And in every single city he put shields and spears, and made them very strong, having Judah and Benjamin on his side.

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

13 And the priests and the Levites that were in all Israel resorted to him from all their land.

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

14 For the Levites left their common lands and their possession, and came to Judah and Jerusalem: for Jeroboam and his sons had cast them off from executing the priest’s office to the LORD:

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.

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

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

16 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 to the LORD God of their fathers.

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.

17 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.

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.

18 And Rehoboam took to himself Mahalath the daughter of Jerimoth the son of David for a wife, and Abihail the daughter of Eliab the son of Jesse;

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

19 Who bore him children; Jeush, and Shamariah, and Zaham.

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

20 And after her he took Maachah the daughter of Absalom; who bore him Abijah, and Attai, and Ziza, and Shelomith.

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

21 And Rehoboam loved Maachah the daughter of Absalom above all his wives and his concubines: (for he took eighteen wives, and sixty concubines; and begat twenty and eight sons, and sixty daughters.)

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).

22 And Rehoboam made Abijah the son of Maachah the chief, to be ruler among his brethren: for he thought to make him king.

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

23 And he dealt wisely, and distributed of all his children throughout all the countries of Judah and Benjamin, to every fortified city: and he gave them food in abundance. And he desired many wives.

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.