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 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.

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

But the word of the LORD 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 to Rehoboam the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and to all Israel in Judah and Benjamin, saying,

4 ‘Yahweh says, “You shall not go up, nor fight against your brothers! Every man return to his house; for this thing is of me.”’” So they listened to Yahweh’s words, and returned 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 by me. And they obeyed the words of the LORD, 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, Etam, Tekoa,

He built even Bethlehem, and Etam, and Tekoa,

7 Beth Zur, Soco, Adullam,

And Bethzur, and Shoco, 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, which are fortified cities in Judah and in Benjamin.

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

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

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

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

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

13 The priests and the Levites who were in all Israel stood with him out of all their territory.

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

14 For the Levites left their pasture lands and their possessions, and came to Judah and Jerusalem; for Jeroboam and his sons cast them off, that they should not execute the priest’s office to Yahweh.

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:

15 He himself appointed priests for the high places, for the male goat and calf idols which he had made.

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

16 After them, out of all the tribes of Israel, those who set their hearts to seek Yahweh, the God of Israel, came to Jerusalem to sacrifice to Yahweh, the 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 to the LORD God of their fathers.

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

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

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;

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

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

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

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

21 Rehoboam loved Maacah the granddaughter of Absalom above all his wives and his concubines; for he took eighteen wives and sixty concubines, 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 took eighteen wives, and sixty concubines; and begat twenty and 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 made Abijah the son of Maachah the chief, to be ruler among his brethren: for he thought to make him king.

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

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.