1 W hen 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.

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

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

4 ‘ 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

‘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 R ehoboam lived in Jerusalem and built strong cities in Judah.

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

6 H e built Bethlehem, Etam, Tekoa,

And he built Bethlehem, Etam, Tekoa,

7 B eth-zur, Soco, Adullam,

Beth Zur, Sochoh, Adullam,

8 G ath, Mareshah, Ziph,

Gath, Mareshah, Ziph,

9 A doraim, Lachish, Azekah,

Adoraim, Lachish, Azekah,

10 Z orah, Aijalon, and Hebron. These are strong cities with walls, in Judah and in Benjamin.

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

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

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

12 A nd 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

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

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

14 T he 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.

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 H e chose religious leaders of his own for the high places, for the goat-gods 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 T hose 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.

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 T hey 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

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 T hen Rehoboam married Mahalath. She was the daughter of Jerimoth the son of David, and of 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 S he gave birth to Rehoboam’s sons: Jeush, Shemariah, and Zaham.

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

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

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

21 R ehoboam 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.

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 R ehoboam chose Maacah’s son Abijah to be the head leader among his brothers. For he wanted 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 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.

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.