1 ¶ And when Rehoboam came to Jerusalem, he gathered of the house of Judah and Benjamin one hundred and eighty thousand chosen men, who were warriors, to fight against Israel, that he might bring the kingdom again to Rehoboam.

Now when Rehoboam came to Jerusalem, he assembled from the house of Judah and Benjamin one hundred and eighty thousand chosen men who were warriors, to fight against Israel, that he might restore the kingdom to Rehoboam.

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 peak unto 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 T hus hath the LORD said, Ye shall not go up, nor fight against your brethren; return each man to his house; for this thing is done of me. And they heard the word of the LORD and returned and did not go against Jeroboam.

‘Thus says the Lord: “You shall not go up or fight against your brethren! Let every man return to his house, for this thing is from Me.”’” Therefore they obeyed the words of the Lord, and turned back from attacking Jeroboam. Rehoboam Fortifies the Cities

5 A nd Rehoboam dwelt in Jerusalem and built cities for defence in Judah.

So Rehoboam dwelt in Jerusalem, and built cities for defense in Judah.

6 H e built Bethlehem and Etam and Tekoa

And he built Bethlehem, Etam, Tekoa,

7 a nd Bethzur and Shoco and Adullam

Beth Zur, Sochoh, Adullam,

8 a nd Gath and Mareshah and Ziph

Gath, Mareshah, Ziph,

9 a nd Adoraim and Lachish and Azekah

Adoraim, Lachish, Azekah,

10 a nd Zorah and Aijalon and Hebron which are in Judah and in Benjamin, fenced cities.

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

11 A nd he fortified the strong holds, and put captains in them and provisions and wine and oil;

And he fortified the strongholds, and put captains in them, and stores of food, oil, and wine.

12 a nd in all the cities he put shields and spears. He fortified them greatly, having Judah and Benjamin on his side.

Also in every city he put shields and spears, and made them very strong, having Judah and Benjamin on his side. Priests and Levites Move to Judah

13 ¶ And the priests and the Levites that were in all Israel gathered unto him out of all their borders.

And from all their territories the priests and the Levites who were in all Israel took their stand with him.

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 off from executing the priest’s office unto the LORD.

For the Levites left their common-lands and their possessions and came to Judah and Jerusalem, for Jeroboam and his sons had rejected them from serving as priests to the Lord.

15 A nd he ordained himself priests for the high places and for the demons and for the calves which he had made.

Then he appointed for himself priests for the high places, for the demons, and the calf idols which he had made.

16 A nd from 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 unto the LORD God of their fathers.

And after the Levites left, those from all the tribes of Israel, such as set their heart to seek the Lord God of Israel, came to Jerusalem to sacrifice to the Lord God of their fathers.

17 S o they strengthened the kingdom of Judah and made Rehoboam, the son of Solomon, strong for three years because they walked three years in the way of David and of Solomon.

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

18 A nd Rehoboam took Mahalath, the daughter of Jerimoth, the son of David, to wife, and Abihail, the daughter of Eliab, the son of Jesse;

Then Rehoboam took for himself as wife Mahalath the daughter of Jerimoth the son of David, and of Abihail the daughter of Eliah the son of Jesse.

19 w ho bore him sons: Jeush and Shamariah and Zaham.

And she bore him children: Jeush, Shamariah, and Zaham.

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

After her he took Maachah the granddaughter of Absalom; and she bore him Abijah, Attai, Ziza, and Shelomith.

21 B ut 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-eight sons and sixty daughters.)

Now Rehoboam loved Maachah the granddaughter of Absalom more than all his wives and his concubines; for he took eighteen wives and sixty concubines, and begot twenty-eight sons and sixty daughters.

22 A nd Rehoboam made Abijah, the son of Maachah, as head and prince among his brethren, for he thought to make him king.

And Rehoboam appointed Abijah the son of Maachah as chief, to be leader among his brothers; for he intended to make him king.

23 A nd he caused him to be instructed and dispersed of all his sons throughout all the lands of Judah and Benjamin, unto every fenced city; and he gave them provisions in abundance. And he desired many wives.

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