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 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.

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

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

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 of all the Israelites living 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.

‘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.

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

Rehoboam stayed in Jerusalem, and he strengthened the defenses of the towns 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. These are the fortified towns in Judah and in 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 commanders in charge of them, together with supplies of food, olive 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 stored shields and spears in all the towns and made them very strong. So he held Judah and Benjamin under his rule.

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

However, the priests and Levites throughout Israel chose to side 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:

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.

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

Jeroboam chose his own priests for the high places and for the goat 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 were committed to worshiping their God followed the Levites to Jerusalem to sacrifice to the Lord, the God of their forefathers.

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 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.

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;

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

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

She was the mother his sons Jeush, and Shamariah, 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 Absalom's daughter, and she was the mother of his sons 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 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.

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 made Abijah son of Maacah crown prince among his brothers, planning 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 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.