1 N ow 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.

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

2 B ut the word of the Lord came to Shemaiah the man of God, saying,

But Yahweh’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 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

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

5 S o Rehoboam dwelt in Jerusalem, and built cities for defense in Judah.

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

6 A nd he built Bethlehem, Etam, Tekoa,

He built Bethlehem, and Etam, and Tekoa,

7 B eth Zur, Sochoh, Adullam,

Beth Zur, and Soco, and Adullam,

8 G ath, Mareshah, Ziph,

and Gath, and Mareshah, and Ziph,

9 A doraim, Lachish, Azekah,

and Adoraim, and Lachish, and Azekah,

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

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

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

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

12 A lso 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

He put shields and spears in every city, and made them exceeding strong. Judah and Benjamin belonged to him.

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

The priests and the Levites who were in all Israel resorted to him out of all their border.

14 F or 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.

For the Levites left their suburbs and their possession, and came to Judah and Jerusalem: for Jeroboam and his sons cast them off, that they should not execute the priest’s office to Yahweh;

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

and he appointed him priests for the high places, and for the male goats, and for the calves which he had made.

16 A nd 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.

After them, out of all the tribes of Israel, such as set their hearts to seek Yahweh, the God of Israel, came to Jerusalem to sacrifice to Yahweh, the 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 in the way of David and Solomon for three years. The Family of Rehoboam

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

18 T hen 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.

Rehoboam took him a wife, Mahalath 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 children: Jeush, Shamariah, and Zaham.

and she bore him sons: Jeush, and Shemariah, and Zaham.

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

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

21 N ow 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.

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

Rehoboam appointed Abijah the son of Maacah to be chief, the prince among his brothers; for he intended to make him king.

23 H e 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.

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