2 Chronicles 11

1 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.

When Rehoboam arrived in Jerusalem, he mobilized the house of Judah and Benjamin—180,000 chosen warriors—to fight against Israel and restore the kingdom to Rehoboam.

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

But the word of the LORD came to Shemaiah the man of God:

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

“Tell Rehoboam son of Solomon king of Judah and all the Israelites in Judah and Benjamin

4 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.

that this is what the LORD says: ‘You are not to go up and fight against your brothers. Each of you must return home, for this word is from Me.’” So they listened to the words of the LORD and turned back from going against Jeroboam.

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

Rehoboam continued to live in Jerusalem, and he built up cities for defense in Judah.

6 He built even Bethlehem, and Etam, and Tekoa,

He built up Bethlehem, Etam, Tekoa,

7 And Bethzur, and Shoco, and Adullam,

Beth-zur, Soco, 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, the fortified cities in Judah and Benjamin.

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

He strengthened their fortresses and put officers in them, with supplies of food, oil, and wine.

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

He also put shields and spears in all the cities and strengthened them greatly. So Judah and Benjamin belonged to him.

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

Moreover, the priests and Levites from all their districts throughout Israel stood with Rehoboam.

14 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:

For the Levites left their pasturelands and their possessions and went to Judah and Jerusalem, because Jeroboam and his sons had rejected them as priests of the LORD.

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

And Jeroboam appointed his own priests for the high places and for the goat demons and calf idols he had made.

16 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.

Those from every tribe of Israel who had set their hearts to seek the LORD their God followed the Levites to Jerusalem to sacrifice to the LORD, the God of their fathers.

17 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.

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

18 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;

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

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

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

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

After her, he married Maacah daughter of Absalom, and she bore to him Abijah, Attai, Ziza, and Shelomith.

21 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.)

Rehoboam loved Maacah daughter of Absalom more than all his wives and concubines. In all, he had eighteen wives and sixty concubines, and he was the father of twenty-eight sons and sixty daughters.

22 And Rehoboam made Abijah the son of Maachah the chief, to be ruler among his brethren: for he thought to make him king.

Rehoboam appointed Abijah son of Maacah as chief prince among his brothers, intending to make him king.

23 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.

Rehoboam also acted wisely by dispersing some of his sons throughout the districts of Judah and Benjamin, and to all the fortified cities. He gave them abundant provisions and sought many wives for them.