aNow when Rehoboam had come
to Jerusalem
, he assembled
the house
of Judah
and Benjamin
, 180,000
chosen
men who were warriors
, to fight
against
Israel
to restore
the kingdom
to Rehoboam
.
But the word of the LORD
came
to aShemaiah
the man
of God
, saying
,
"Speak to Rehoboam
the son
of Solomon
, king
of Judah
, and to all
Israel
in Judah
and Benjamin
, saying
,
`Thus says
the LORD
, "You shall not go
up or fight
against
ayour 1relatives
; return
every
man
to his house
, bfor this
thing
is from Me.""' So they listened
to the words
of the LORD
and returned
from going
against
Jeroboam
.
Rehoboam lived
in Jerusalem
and abuilt
cities
for defense
in Judah
.
Thus he built Bethlehem
, Etam
, Tekoa
,
Zorah, Aijalon
and Hebron
, which
are fortified
cities
in Judah
and in Benjamin
.
He also strengthened the fortresses
and put
officers
in them and stores
of food
, oil
and wine
.
He put shields and spears
in every
city
and strengthened
them greatly
. So he held
Judah
and Benjamin
.
Moreover, the priests and the Levites
who
were in all
Israel
stood
with him from all
their districts
.
For athe Levites left
their pasture
lands
and their property
and came
to Judah
and Jerusalem
, for bJeroboam
and his sons
had excluded
them from serving
as priests
to the LORD
.
aHe set up priests
of his own for the high
places
, for the satyrs
and for the calves
which
he had made
.
aThose from all the tribes
of Israel
who set
their hearts
on seeking
the LORD
God
of Israel
1followed
them to Jerusalem
, to sacrifice
to the LORD
God
of their fathers
.
aThey strengthened the kingdom
of Judah
and supported
Rehoboam
the son
of Solomon
for three
years
, for they walked
in the way
of David
and Solomon
for three
years
.
Then Rehoboam took
as a wife
Mahalath
the daughter
of Jerimoth
the son
of David
and of Abihail
the daughter
of aEliab
the son
of Jesse
,
and she bore him sons
: Jeush
, Shemariah
and Zaham
.
After her he took
aMaacah
the daughter
of 1Absalom
, and she bore
him Abijah
, Attai
, Ziza
and Shelomith
.
Rehoboam loved
Maacah
the daughter
of Absalom
more
than
all
his other wives
and concubines
. For ahe had taken
eighteen
wives
and sixty
concubines
and fathered
twenty-eight
sons
and sixty
daughters
.
aRehoboam appointed
Abijah
the son
of Maacah
as head
and leader
among his brothers
, for he intended to make
him king
.
He acted wisely
and distributed
1some
of his sons
through
all
the territories
of Judah
and Benjamin
to all
the fortified
cities
, and he gave
them food
in abundance
. And he sought
many
wives
for them.