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 had come to Jerusalem, he assembled the house of Judah and Benjamin, one hundred and eighty thousand chosen men who were warriors, to fight against Israel, to bring the kingdom again to Rehoboam.

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

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

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

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

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.

‘The LORD says, “You shall not go up, nor fight against your brothers! Every man return to his house; for this thing is of me.”’” So they listened to the LORD’s words, and returned from going against Jeroboam.

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

Rehoboam lived in Jerusalem, and built cities for defence in Judah.

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

He built 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, which are fortified cities 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 fortified the strongholds and put captains in them with stores 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 put shields and spears in every city, and made them exceedingly strong. 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.

The priests and the Levites who were in all Israel stood with him out of all their territory.

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 pasture lands and their possessions, and came to Judah and Jerusalem; for Jeroboam and his sons cast them off, that they should not execute the priest’s office to the LORD.

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

He himself appointed priests for the high places, for the male goat and calf idols which 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.

After them, out of all the tribes of Israel, those who set their hearts to seek the LORD, the God of Israel, came 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 made Rehoboam the son of Solomon strong for three years, for they walked 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;

Rehoboam took a wife for himself, Mahalath the daughter of Jerimoth the son of David and of Abihail the daughter of Eliab the son of Jesse.

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

She bore him sons: 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 took Maacah the granddaughter of Absalom; and she bore 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 the granddaughter of Absalom above all his wives and his concubines; for he took eighteen wives and sixty concubines, and became 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 the son of Maacah to be chief, the prince amongst his brothers, for he intended 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.

He dealt wisely, and dispersed some of his sons throughout all the lands of Judah and Benjamin, to every fortified city. He gave them food in abundance; and he sought many wives for them.