1And when Rehoboam7346 was come935 to Jerusalem3389, he gathered6950 of the house1004 of Judah3063 and Benjamin1144 an hundred3967 and fourscore8084 thousand505 chosen977 men, which were warriors6213 4421, to fight3898 against Israel3478, that he might bring7725 the kingdom4467 again7725 to Rehoboam7346.
2But the word1697 of the LORD3068 came to Shemaiah8098 the man376 of God430, saying559,
3Speak559 unto Rehoboam7346 the son1121 of Solomon8010, king4428 of Judah3063, and to all Israel3478 in Judah3063 and Benjamin1144, saying559,
4Thus saith559 the LORD3068, Ye shall not go up5927, nor fight3898 against your brethren251: return7725 every man376 to his house1004: for this thing1697 is done1961 of me. And they obeyed8085 the words1697 of the LORD3068, and returned7725 from going3212 against Jeroboam3379.
5And Rehoboam7346 dwelt3427 in Jerusalem3389, and built1129 cities5892 for defence4692 in Judah3063.
6He built1129 even Bethlehem1035, and Etam5862, and Tekoa8620,
7And Bethzur1049, and Shoco7755, and Adullam5725,
8And Gath1661, and Mareshah4762, and Ziph2128,
9And Adoraim115, and Lachish3923, and Azekah5825,
10And Zorah6881, and Aijalon357, and Hebron2275, which are in Judah3063 and in Benjamin1144 fenced4694 cities5892.
11And he fortified2388 the strong holds4694, and put5414 captains5057 in them, and store214 of victual3978, and of oil8081 and wine3196.
12And in every several city5892 he put shields6793 and spears7420, and made them exceeding7235 3966 strong2388, having Judah3063 and Benjamin1144 on his side.
13And the priests3548 and the Levites3881 that were in all Israel3478 resorted3320 to him out of all their coasts1366.
14For the Levites3881 left5800 their suburbs4054 and their possession272, and came3212 to Judah3063 and Jerusalem3389: for Jeroboam3379 and his sons1121 had cast them off2186 from executing the priest's office3547 unto the LORD3068:
15And he ordained5975 him priests3548 for the high places1116, and for the devils8163, and for the calves5695 which he had made6213.
16And after310 them out of all the tribes7626 of Israel3478 such as set5414 their hearts3824 to seek1245 the LORD3068 God430 of Israel3478 came935 to Jerusalem3389, to sacrifice2076 unto the LORD3068 God430 of their fathers1.
17So they strengthened2388 the kingdom4438 of Judah3063, and made Rehoboam7346 the son1121 of Solomon8010 strong553, three7969 years8141: for three7969 years8141 they walked1980 in the way1870 of David1732 and Solomon8010.
18And Rehoboam7346 took3947 him Mahalath4258 the daughter1323 1121 of Jerimoth3406 the son1121 of David1732 to wife802, and Abihail32 the daughter1323 of Eliab446 the son1121 of Jesse3448;
19Which bare3205 him children1121; Jeush3266, and Shamariah8114, and Zaham2093.
20And after310 her he took3947 Maachah4601 the daughter1323 of Absalom53; which bare3205 him Abijah29, and Attai6262, and Ziza2124, and Shelomith8019.
21And Rehoboam7346 loved157 Maachah4601 the daughter1323 of Absalom53 above all his wives802 and his concubines6370: (for he took5375 eighteen8083 6240 wives802, and threescore8346 concubines6370; and begat3205 twenty6242 and eight8083 sons1121, and threescore8346 daughters1323.)
22And Rehoboam7346 made5975 Abijah29 the son1121 of Maachah4601 the chief7218, to be ruler5057 among his brethren251: for he thought to make him king4427.
23And he dealt wisely995, and dispersed6555 of all his children1121 throughout all the countries776 of Judah3063 and Benjamin1144, unto every fenced4694 city5892: and he gave5414 them victual4202 in abundance7230. And he desired7592 many1995 wives802.