1 A nd Rehoboam cometh in to Jerusalem, and assembleth the house of Judah and Benjamin, a hundred and eighty thousand chosen warriors, to fight with Israel, to bring back 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 A nd a word of Jehovah is unto Shemaiah, a man of God, saying,

But the word of the Lord came to Shemaiah the man of God, saying,

3 ` Speak unto Rehoboam son of Solomon king of Judah, and unto 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 T hus said Jehovah, Ye do not go up nor fight with your brethren, turn back each to his house, for from Me hath this thing been;' and they hear the words of Jehovah, and turn back 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 A nd Rehoboam dwelleth in Jerusalem, and buildeth cities for a bulwark in Judah,

Rehoboam lived in Jerusalem and built strong cities in Judah.

6 y ea, he buildeth Beth-Lehem and Etam, and Tekoa,

He built Bethlehem, Etam, Tekoa,

7 a nd Beth-Zur, and Shocho, and Adullam,

Beth-zur, Soco, 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, that in Judah and in Benjamin, cities of bulwarks.

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

11 A nd he strengtheneth the bulwarks, and putteth in them leaders, and treasures of food, and oil, and wine,

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

12 a nd in every city and city targets and spears, and strengtheneth them very greatly; and he hath 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, that in all Israel, have stationed themselves by him, out of all their border,

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 have left their suburbs and their possession, and they come to Judah and to Jerusalem, for Jeroboam and his sons have cast them off from acting as priests to Jehovah,

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 establisheth to him priests for high places, and for goats, and for calves, that he 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, those giving their heart to seek Jehovah, God of Israel, have come in to Jerusalem to sacrifice to Jehovah, God of their father.

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 A nd they strengthen the kingdom of Judah, and strengthen Rehoboam son of Solomon, for three years, because they walked in the way 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 A nd Rehoboam taketh to him a wife, Mahalath, child of Jerimoth son of David, Abigail 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 A nd she beareth to him sons, Jeush, and Shamaria, and Zaham.

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

20 A nd after her he hath taken Maachah daughter of Absalom, and she beareth to him Abijah, and Attai, and 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 loveth Maachah daughter of Absalom above all his wives and his concubines -- for eighteen wives he hath taken, and sixty concubines -- and he begetteth twenty and 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 appointeth for head Abijah son of Maachah, for leader among his brethren, for to cause him to reign.

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 hath understanding, and spreadeth out of all his sons to all lands of Judah and Benjamin, to all cities of the bulwarks, and giveth to them provision in abundance; and he asketh a multitude of wives.

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.