1
And when Rehoboam[H7346] was come[H935] to Jerusalem[H3389], he gathered[H6950] of the house[H1004] of Judah[H3063] and Benjamin[H1144] an hundred[H3967] and fourscore[H8084]thousand[H505]chosen[H977] men, which were warriors[H6213], to fight[H3898] against Israel[H3478], that he might bring[H7725] the kingdom[H4467]again[H7725] to Rehoboam[H7346].
2
But the word[H1697] of the LORD[H3068] came to Shemaiah[H8098] the man[H376] of God[H430], saying[H559],
3Speak[H559] unto Rehoboam[H7346] the son[H1121] of Solomon[H8010], king[H4428] of Judah[H3063], and to all Israel[H3478] in Judah[H3063] and Benjamin[H1144], saying[H559],
4
Thus saith[H559] the LORD[H3068], Ye shall not go up[H5927], nor fight[H3898] against your brethren[H251]: return[H7725] every man[H376] to his house[H1004]: for this thing[H1697] is done[H1961] of me. And they obeyed[H8085] the words[H1697] of the LORD[H3068], and returned[H7725] from going[H3212] against Jeroboam[H3379].
5
And Rehoboam[H7346]dwelt[H3427] in Jerusalem[H3389], and built[H1129]cities[H5892] for defence[H4692] in Judah[H3063].
6
He built[H1129] even Bethlehem[H1035], and Etam[H5862], and Tekoa[H8620],
7
And Bethzur[H1049], and Shoco[H7755], and Adullam[H5725],
8
And Gath[H1661], and Mareshah[H4762], and Ziph[H2128],
9
And Adoraim[H115], and Lachish[H3923], and Azekah[H5825],
10
And Zorah[H6881], and Aijalon[H357], and Hebron[H2275], which are in Judah[H3063] and in Benjamin[H1144]fenced[H4694]cities[H5892].
11
And he fortified[H2388] the strong holds[H4694], and put[H5414]captains[H5057] in them, and store[H214] of victual[H3978], and of oil[H8081] and wine[H3196].
12
And in every several city[H5892] he put shields[H6793] and spears[H7420], and made them exceeding[H7235]strong[H2388], having Judah[H3063] and Benjamin[H1144] on his side.
13
And the priests[H3548] and the Levites[H3881] that were in all Israel[H3478]resorted[H3320] to him out of all their coasts[H1366].
14
For the Levites[H3881]left[H5800] their suburbs[H4054] and their possession[H272], and came[H3212] to Judah[H3063] and Jerusalem[H3389]: for Jeroboam[H3379] and his sons[H1121] had cast them off[H2186] from executing the priest's office[H3547] unto the LORD[H3068]:
15
And he ordained[H5975] him priests[H3548] for the high places[H1116], and for the devils[H8163], and for the calves[H5695] which he had made[H6213].
16
And after[H310] them out of all the tribes[H7626] of Israel[H3478] such as set[H5414] their hearts[H3824] to seek[H1245] the LORD[H3068]God[H430] of Israel[H3478]came[H935] to Jerusalem[H3389], to sacrifice[H2076] unto the LORD[H3068]God[H430] of their fathers[H1].
17
So they strengthened[H2388] the kingdom[H4438] of Judah[H3063], and made Rehoboam[H7346] the son[H1121] of Solomon[H8010]strong[H553], three[H7969]years[H8141]: for three[H7969]years[H8141] they walked[H1980] in the way[H1870] of David[H1732] and Solomon[H8010].
18
And Rehoboam[H7346]took[H3947] him Mahalath[H4258] the daughter[H1323] of Jerimoth[H3406] the son[H1121] of David[H1732] to wife[H802], and Abihail[H32] the daughter[H1121] of Eliab[H446] the son[H1121] of Jesse[H3448];
19
Which bare[H3205] him children[H1121]; Jeush[H3266], and Shamariah[H8114], and Zaham[H2093].
20
And after[H310] her he took[H3947]Maachah[H4601] the daughter[H1323] of Absalom[H53]; which bare[H3205] him Abijah[H29], and Attai[H6262], and Ziza[H2124], and Shelomith[H8019].
21
And Rehoboam[H7346]loved[H157]Maachah[H4601] the daughter[H1323] of Absalom[H53] above all his wives[H802] and his concubines[H6370]:(for he took[H5375]eighteen[H8083]wives[H802], and threescore[H8346]concubines[H6370]; and begat[H3205]twenty[H6242] and eight[H8083]sons[H1121], and threescore[H8346]daughters[H1323].)
22
And Rehoboam[H7346]made[H5975]Abijah[H29] the son[H1121] of Maachah[H4601] the chief[H7218], to be ruler[H5057] among his brethren[H251]: for he thought to make him king[H4427].
23
And he dealt wisely[H995], and dispersed[H6555] of all his children[H1121] throughout all the countries[H776] of Judah[H3063] and Benjamin[H1144], unto every fenced[H4694]city[H5892]: and he gave[H5414] them victual[H4202] in abundance[H7230]. And he desired[H7592]many[H1995]wives[H802].