1 N ow when Rehoboam had come to Jerusalem, he assembled the house of Judah and Benjamin, 180, 000 chosen men who were warriors, to fight against Israel to restore the kingdom 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 “ 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 speak to all Israel in Judah and Benjamin. Tell them,

4 ‘ Thus says the Lord, “You shall not go up or fight against your relatives; return every man to his house, for this thing is from Me.”’” So they listened to the words of 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 lived in Jerusalem and built cities for defense in Judah.

Rehoboam lived in Jerusalem and built strong cities in Judah.

6 T hus he 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 in Benjamin.

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

11 H e also strengthened the fortresses and put officers in them and stores of food, oil and wine.

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

12 H e put shields and spears in every city and strengthened them greatly. 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 M oreover, the priests and the Levites who were in all Israel stood with him from all their districts. Jeroboam Appoints False Priests

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 pasture lands and their property and came to Judah and Jerusalem, for Jeroboam and his sons had excluded them from serving as priests 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 H e set up priests of his own for the high places, for the satyrs and for the calves which 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 T hose from all the tribes of Israel who set their hearts on seeking the Lord God of Israel followed them to Jerusalem, to sacrifice to the Lord 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 T hey strengthened the kingdom of Judah and supported Rehoboam the son of Solomon for three years, for they walked in the way of David and Solomon for three years. Rehoboam’s Family

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 T hen Rehoboam took as a wife Mahalath the daughter of Jerimoth the son of David and of Abihail the daughter of Eliab the 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 a nd she bore him sons: Jeush, Shemariah and Zaham.

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

20 A fter her he took Maacah the daughter of Absalom, and she 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 R ehoboam loved Maacah the daughter of Absalom more than all his other wives and concubines. For he had taken eighteen wives and sixty concubines and fathered 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 R ehoboam appointed Abijah the son of Maacah as head and leader among his brothers, 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 H e acted wisely and distributed some of his sons through all the territories of Judah and Benjamin to all the fortified cities, and he gave them food in abundance. 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.