2 Chronicles 11

1 And Roboam came to Jerusalem, and called together all the house of Juda and of Benjamin, a hundred and fourscore thousand chosen men and warriors, to fight against Israel, and to bring back his kingdom to him.

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

2 And the word of the Lord came to Semeias the man of God, saying:

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

3 Speak to Roboam the son of Solomon the king of Juda, and to all Israel, in Juda and Benjamin:

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

4 Thus saith the Lord: You shall not go up, nor fight against your brethren: let every man return to his own house, for by my will this thing has been done. And when they heard the word of the Lord, they returned, and did not go 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 And Roboam dwelt in Jerusalem, and built walled cities in Juda.

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

6 And he built Bethlehem, and Etam, and Thecue,

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

7 And Bethsur, and Socho, and Odollam,

And Beth-zur, and Shocho, and Adullam,

8 And Geth, and Maresa, and Ziph,

And Gath, and Mareshah, and Ziph,

9 And Aduram, and Lachis, and Azecha,

And Adoraim, and Lachish, and Azekah,

10 Saraa also, and Aialon, and Hebron, which are in Juda and Benjamin, well fenced cities.

And Zorah, and Ajalon, and Hebron, which [are] in Judah and in Benjamin, fortified cities.

11 And when he had enclosed them with walls, he put in them governors and storehouses of provisions, that is, of oil and of wine.

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

12 Moreover in every city he made an armoury of shields and spears, and he fortified them with great diligence, and he reigned over Juda, and Benjamin,

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, came to him out of all their seats,

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

14 Leaving their suburbs, and their possessions, and passing over to Juda, and Jerusalem, because Jeroboam and his sons had cast them off, from executing the priestly office to the Lord.

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 to the LORD:

15 And he made to himself priests for the high places, and for the devils, 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 Moreover out of all the tribes of Israel, whosoever gave their heart to seek the Lord the God of Israel, came into Jerusalem to sacrifice their victims before the Lord 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 And they strengthened the kingdom of Juda, and established Roboam the son of Solomon for three years: for they walked in the ways of David and of Solomon, only 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 Roboam took to wife Mahalath, the daughter of Jerimoth the son of David: and Abihail the daughter of Eliab the son of Isai.

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 And they bore him sons Jehus, and Somorias, and Zoom.

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

20 And after her he married Maacha the daughter of Absalom, who bore him Abia and Ethai, and Ziza, and Salomith.

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

21 And Roboam loved Maacha the daughter of Absalom above all his wives, and concubines: for he had married eighteen wives, and threescore concubines: and he beget eight and twenty sons, and threescore 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 But he put at the head of them Abia the son of Maacha to be the chief ruler over all his brethren: for he meant 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 Because he was wiser and mightier than all his sons, and in all the countries of Juda, and of Benjamin, and in all the walled cities: and he gave them provisions in abundance, and he sought many wives.

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