2 Chronicles 11

1 And when Rehoboam had entered Jerusalem, he called together the house of Judah and Benjamin, a hundred and eighty thousand chosen men, warriors, —to fight against Israel, to bring back the kingdom 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 Then came the word of Yahweh, unto Shemaiah the man of God, saying:

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

3 Speak unto Rehoboam son of Solomon, king of Judah, —and unto all Israel in Judah and in Benjamin, saying:

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

4 Thus, saith Yahweh, Ye shall not go up neither shall ye fight against your brethren, return every man to his own house, for, from me, hath this thing been brought about. So they hearkened unto the words of Yahweh, and turned back from going 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 And Rehoboam dwelt in Jerusalem, —and built cities for defence, in Judah;

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

6 yea he built Bethlehem and Etam, and Tekoa;

And he built Bethlehem, and Etam, and Thecue,

7 and Beth-zur and Soco, and Adullam;

And Bethsur, and Socho, and Odollam,

8 and Gath and Mareshah, and Ziph;

And Geth, and Maresa, and Ziph,

9 and Adoraim and Lachish, and Azekah;

And Aduram, and Lachis, and Azecha,

10 and Zorah, and Aijalon and Hebron, which are in Judah and Benjamin, —as fortified cities.

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

11 And he strengthened the fortified places, —and put therein captains, and stores of food, and 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 and, in every several city, shields and spears, and made them exceedingly strong, —thus Judah and Benjamin remained his.

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 And, the priests and Levites that were in all Israel, took their stand with him, out of all their boundaries.

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

14 For the Levites left their pasture lands, and their possessions, and came to Judah, and to Jerusalem, —for Jeroboam and his sons cast them off, from ministering as priests unto Yahweh;

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 and appointed for himself priests for the high places, and for the demons—and for the calves which 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 And, after them—out of all the tribes of Israel, such as were setting their heart to seek Yahweh God of Israel, came to Jerusalem, to sacrifice unto Yahweh, God of their fathers.

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 strengthened the kingdom of Judah, and emboldened Rehoboam son of Solomon, for three years, —for they walked in the way of David and Solomon, for three years.

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 And Rehoboam took him to wife, Mahalath, daughter of Jerimoth, son of David, —and Abihail, 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 and she bare him sons, —Jeush and Shamariah and Zaham.

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

20 And, after her, he took Maacah, daughter of Absolom, —and she bare him Abijah, and Attai, and Ziza, and Shelomith.

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

21 And Rehoboam loved Maacah daughter of Absolom, above all his wives and his concubines, for, eighteen wives, took he, and sixty concubines, —and begat 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 So then Rehoboam appointed Abijah son of Maacah as head, to be chief ruler among his brethren, —yea that he might 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 So he took heed, and dispersed all his sons throughout all the lands of Judah and Benjamin, unto all the fortified cities, and gave them food in abundance, —and asked a multitude of wives.

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.