1 A nd when Rehoboam came to Jerusalem, he assembled of the house of Judah and Benjamin 180, 000 chosen warriors to fight against Israel to bring the kingdom again to Rehoboam.

When Rehoboam came to Jerusalem, he gathered together the family of Judah and Benjamin. There were 180, 000 chosen men of war gathered to fight against Israel to make Rehoboam their king again.

2 B ut 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, saying,

3 S ay to Rehoboam son of Solomon king of Judah and to all Israel in Judah and Benjamin,

“Speak to Rehoboam the son of Solomon, king of Judah. And speak to all Israel in Judah and Benjamin. Tell them,

4 T hus says the Lord: You shall not go up or fight against your brethren. Return every man to his house, for this thing is from Me. And they obeyed the Lord and returned from going against Jeroboam.

‘This is what the Lord says, “You must not go up to fight against your brothers. Every man return to his house. For I have made this happen.”’” So they listened to the word of the Lord and returned. They did not go against Jeroboam. Rehoboam Makes the Cities Strong

5 R ehoboam dwelt in Jerusalem and built cities for defense in Judah.

Rehoboam lived in Jerusalem and built strong cities in Judah.

6 H e built Bethlehem, Etam, Tekoa,

He built Bethlehem, Etam, Tekoa,

7 B eth-zur, Soco, Adullam,

Beth-zur, Soco, Adullam,

8 G ath, Mareshah, Ziph,

Gath, Mareshah, Ziph,

9 A doraim, Lachish, Azekah,

Adoraim, Lachish, Azekah,

10 Z orah, Aijalon, and Hebron, which are fortified cities in Judah and Benjamin.

Zorah, Aijalon, and Hebron. These are strong cities with walls, in Judah and in Benjamin.

11 H e fortified the strongholds and put captains in them, with stores of food, oil, and vintage fruits.

He made the strong places stronger. He put leaders in them, and stores of food, oil, and wine.

12 A nd in each city he put shields and spears, and made them very strong. So he held Judah and Benjamin.

And he put battle-coverings and spears in every city and made them very strong. So he kept Judah and Benjamin. Religious Leaders and Levites Come to Judah

13 A nd the priests and the Levites who were in all Israel came over to Rehoboam from wherever they lived.

The religious leaders and the Levites who were in all Israel joined with Rehoboam from all places where they lived.

14 F or the Levites left their suburbs and their possessions and came to Judah and Jerusalem, for Jeroboam and his sons had cast them out from executing the priest’s office to the Lord.

The Levites left their fields and land and came to Judah and Jerusalem. For Jeroboam and his sons had stopped them from working as religious leaders for the Lord.

15 A nd he appointed his own priests for the high places and for the he-goats, and calves he had made.

He chose religious leaders of his own for the high places, for the goat-gods and for the calves which he had made.

16 A nd after them out of all the tribes of Israel there came to Jerusalem those who set their hearts to seek and inquire of the Lord, the God of Israel, to sacrifice to the Lord, the God of their fathers.

Those from all the families of Israel who set their hearts on following the Lord God of Israel came after them to Jerusalem. They came to give gifts in worship to the Lord God of their fathers.

17 S o they strengthened the kingdom of Judah and upheld Rehoboam son of Solomon for three years; for they walked in the ways of David and Solomon for three years.

They made the nation of Judah strong, and gave strength to Rehoboam the son of Solomon for three years. For they walked in the way of David and Solomon for three years. Rehoboam’s Family

18 R ehoboam took as wife Mahalath, whose father was Jerimoth son of David; her mother was Abihail daughter of Eliab son of Jesse.

Then Rehoboam married Mahalath. She was the daughter of Jerimoth the son of David, and of Abihail the daughter of Eliab the son of Jesse.

19 S he bore him sons: Jeush, Shamariah, and Zaham.

She gave birth to Rehoboam’s sons: Jeush, Shemariah, and Zaham.

20 A nd after her he took Maacah daughter of Absalom, who bore him Abijah, Attai, Ziza, and Shelomith.

After her he married Maacah the daughter of Absalom. She gave birth to his sons: Abijah, Attai, Ziza, and Shelomith.

21 A nd Rehoboam loved Maacah daughter of Absalom more than all his wives and concubines—for he took eighteen wives and sixty concubines, and he had twenty-eight sons and sixty daughters.

Rehoboam loved Maacah the daughter of Absalom more than all his other wives and women who acted as his wives. For he had taken eighteen wives and sixty women who acted as his wives. He was the father of twenty-eight sons and sixty daughters.

22 A nd Rehoboam made Abijah son of Maacah the chief prince among his brethren, for he intended to make him king.

Rehoboam chose Maacah’s son Abijah to be the head leader among his brothers. For he wanted to make him king.

23 A nd he dealt understandingly and dispersed his children throughout all Judah and Benjamin to every fortified city. He gave them abundant supplies, and he sought many wives for them.

And he acted with wisdom. He spread some of his sons to every strong city in all the lands of Judah and Benjamin. He gave them much food, and found many wives for them.