And when Rehoboam was come
to Jerusalem
, he gathered
of the house
of Judah
and Benjamin
an hundred
and fourscore
thousand
chosen
men , which were warriors
, to fight
against Israel
, that he might bring
the kingdom
again
to Rehoboam
.
But the word of the LORD
came to Shemaiah
the man
of God
, saying
,
Speak unto Rehoboam
the son
of Solomon
, king
of Judah
, and to all Israel
in Judah
and Benjamin
, saying
,
Thus saith the LORD
, Ye shall not go up
, nor fight
against your brethren
: return
every man
to his house
: for this thing
is done
of me. And they obeyed
the words
of the LORD
, and returned
from going
against Jeroboam
.
And Rehoboam dwelt
in Jerusalem
, and built
cities
for defence
in Judah
.
He built even Bethlehem
, and Etam
, and Tekoa
,
And Bethzur, and Shoco
, and Adullam
,
And Gath, and Mareshah
, and Ziph
,
And Adoraim, and Lachish
, and Azekah
,
And Zorah, and Aijalon
, and Hebron
, which are in Judah
and in Benjamin
fenced
cities
.
And he fortified the strong holds
, and put
captains
in them, and store
of victual
, and of oil
and wine
.
And in every several city he put shields
and spears
, and made them exceeding
strong
, having Judah
and Benjamin
on his side.
And the priests and the Levites
that were in all Israel
resorted
to him out of all their coasts
.
For the Levites left
their suburbs
and their possession
, and came
to Judah
and Jerusalem
: for Jeroboam
and his sons
had cast them off
from executing the priest's office
unto the LORD
:
And he ordained him priests
for the high places
, and for the devils
, and for the calves
which he had made
.
And after them out of all the tribes
of Israel
such as set
their hearts
to seek
the LORD
God
of Israel
came
to Jerusalem
, to sacrifice
unto the LORD
God
of their fathers
.
So they strengthened the kingdom
of Judah
, and made Rehoboam
the son
of Solomon
strong
, three
years
: for three
years
they walked
in the way
of David
and Solomon
.
And Rehoboam took
him Mahalath
the daughter
of Jerimoth
the son
of David
to wife
, and Abihail
the daughter
of Eliab
the son
of Jesse
;
Which bare him children
; Jeush
, and Shamariah
, and Zaham
.
And after her he took
Maachah
the daughter
of Absalom
; which bare
him Abijah
, and Attai
, and Ziza
, and Shelomith
.
And Rehoboam loved
Maachah
the daughter
of Absalom
above all his wives
and his concubines
: (for he took
eighteen
wives
, and threescore
concubines
; and begat
twenty
and eight
sons
, and threescore
daughters
.)
And Rehoboam made
Abijah
the son
of Maachah
the chief
, to be ruler
among his brethren
: for he thought to make him king
.
And he dealt wisely, and dispersed
of all his children
throughout all the countries
of Judah
and Benjamin
, unto every fenced
city
: and he gave
them victual
in abundance
. And he desired
many
wives
.