2 Chronicles 11

1 When Rehoboam arrived in Jerusalem, he gathered the men from the households of Judah and Benjamin— 180,000 chosen warriors—to go and fight against Israel to bring the kingdom back to Rehoboam.

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.

2 But a message from the Lord came to Shemaiah the man of God that said,

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

3 “Tell Rehoboam, son of Solomon, king of Judah, and of all the Israelites living in Judah and Benjamin:

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

4 ‘This is what the Lord says. Don't fight against your relatives. Every one of you, go home! For what has happened is down to me.’” So they obeyed what the Lord told them and did not fight against Jeroboam.

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,

5 Rehoboam stayed in Jerusalem, and he strengthened the defenses of the towns in Judah.

And Roboam dwelt in Jerusalem, and built walled cities in Juda.

6 He built up Bethlehem, Etam, Tekoa,

And he built Bethlehem, and Etam, and Thecue,

7 Beth-zur, Soco, Adullam,

And Bethsur, and Socho, and Odollam,

8 Gath, Mareshah, Ziph,

And Geth, and Maresa, and Ziph,

9 Adoraim, Lachish, Azekah,

And Aduram, and Lachis, and Azecha,

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

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

11 He strengthened their fortresses and put commanders in charge of them, together with supplies of food, olive oil, and wine.

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

12 He stored shields and spears in all the towns and made them very strong. So he held Judah and Benjamin under his rule.

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,

13 However, the priests and Levites throughout Israel chose to side with Rehoboam.

And the priests and Levites, that were in all Israel, came to him out of all their seats,

14 The Levites even left their pasturelands and properties behind, and came to Judah and Jerusalem, because Jeroboam and his sons refused to allow them to serve as priests of the Lord.

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.

15 Jeroboam chose his own priests for the high places and for the goat and calf idols he had made.

And he made to himself priests for the high places, and for the devils, and for the calves which he had made.

16 Those from every tribe of Israel who were committed to worshiping their God followed the Levites to Jerusalem to sacrifice to the Lord, the God of their forefathers.

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.

17 So they supported the kingdom of Judah and for three years they were loyal to Rehoboam, son of Solomon, because they followed the way of David and Solomon.

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.

18 Rehoboam married Mahalath, who was the daughter of David's son Jerimoth and of Abihail, the daughter of Eliab, son of Jesse.

And Roboam took to wife Mahalath, the daughter of Jerimoth the son of David: and Abihail the daughter of Eliab the son of Isai.

19 She was the mother his sons Jeush, and Shamariah, and Zaham.

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

20 After her he married Maacah Absalom's daughter, and she was the mother of his sons Abijah, Attai, Ziza, and Shelomith.

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

21 Rehoboam loved Maacah Absalom's daughter more than all his other wives and concubines. He had a total of eighteen wives and sixty concubines, twenty-eight sons and sixty daughters.

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.

22 Rehoboam made Abijah son of Maacah crown prince among his brothers, planning to make him king.

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,

23 Rehoboam was also wise to place some of his sons throughout the land of Judah and Benjamin, and to all the fortified towns. He gave them plenty of supplies and sought many wives for them. He worked to arrange many wives for them.

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.