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.

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 says the LORD, "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 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 Rehoboam lived in Jerusalem, and built cities for defense in Judah.

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

6 He built Bethlehem, and Etam, and Tekoa,

He built Bethlehem, Etam, Tekoa,

7 Beth Zur, and Soco, 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 He fortified the strongholds, and put captains in them, and stores of food, and oil and wine.

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

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

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

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

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

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 office of cohen 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 cohanim for the high places, and for the male goats, 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 After them, out of all the tribes of Israel, such as set their hearts to seek the LORD, the God of Israel, came to Jerusalem to sacrifice to the LORD, the 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 they walked three years 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 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;

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

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

20 After her he took Maacah the daughter of Absalom; and she 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 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.)

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 Rehoboam appointed Abijah the son of Maacah to be chief, the prince among his brothers; for he intended 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 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.

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.