1 And when Rehoboam7346 was come935 to Jerusalem,3389 he gathered6950 of the house1004 of Judah3063 and Benjamin1144 an hundred3967 and fourscore8084 thousand7239 505 chosen970 men, which were warriors,6213 4421 to fight3898 against5973 Israel,3478 that he might bring7725 the kingdom4467 again7725 to Rehoboam.7346

2 But the word1697 of the LORD3068 came1961 to Shemaiah8098 the man376 of God,430 saying,559

3 Speak559 to Rehoboam7346 the son1121 of Solomon,8010 king4428 of Judah,3063 and to all3605 Israel3478 in Judah3063 and Benjamin,1144 saying,559

4 Thus3541 said559 the LORD,3068 You shall not go5927 up, nor3808 fight3898 against5973 your brothers:251 return7725 every man376 to his house:1004 for this2088 thing1697 is done of me. And they obeyed8085 the words1697 of the LORD,3068 and returned7725 from going3212 against413 Jeroboam.3379

5 And Rehoboam7346 dwelled3427 in Jerusalem,3389 and built1129 cities5892 for defense4692 in Judah.3063

6 He built1129 even Bethlehem,1035 and Etam,5862 and Tekoa,8620

7 And Bethzur,1049 and Shoco,7755 and Adullam,5725

8 And Gath,1661 and Mareshah,4762 and Ziph,2128

9 And Adoraim,115 and Lachish,3923 and Azekah,5825

10 And Zorah,6881 and Aijalon,357 and Hebron,2275 which834 are in Judah3063 and in Benjamin1144 fenced4694 cities.5892

11 And he fortified2388 the strong4694 holds,4694 and put5414 captains5057 in them, and store214 of victual,3978 and of oil8081 and wine.3196

12 And in every3605 several city5892 he put shields6793 and spears,7420 and made them exceeding7235 3966 strong,2388 having Judah3063 and Benjamin1144 on his side.

13 And the priests3548 and the Levites3881 that were in all3605 Israel3478 resorted3320 to him out of all3605 their coasts.1366

14 For the Levites3881 left5800 their suburbs4054 and their possession,272 and came3212 to Judah3063 and Jerusalem:3389 for Jeroboam3379 and his sons1121 had cast2186 them off from executing the priest's3547 office to the LORD:3068

15 And he ordained5975 him priests3548 for the high1116 places, and for the devils,8163 and for the calves5695 which834 he had made.6213

16 And after310 them out of all3605 the tribes7626 of Israel3478 such as set5414 their hearts3824 to seek1245 the LORD3068 God430 of Israel3478 came935 to Jerusalem,3389 to sacrifice2076 to the LORD3068 God430 of their fathers.1

17 So they strengthened2388 the kingdom4438 of Judah,3063 and made Rehoboam7346 the son1121 of Solomon8010 strong,553 three7969 years:8141 for three7969 years8141 they walked1980 in the way1870 of David1732 and Solomon.8010

18 And Rehoboam7346 took3947 him Mahalath4258 the daughter1121 of Jerimoth3406 the son1121 of David1732 to wife,802 and Abihail32 the daughter1323 of Eliab446 the son1121 of Jesse;3448

19 Which bore3205 him children;1121 Jeush,3266 and Shamariah,8114 and Zaham.2093

20 And after310 her he took3947 Maachah4601 the daughter1323 of Absalom;53 which bore3205 him Abijah,29 and Attai,6262 and Ziza,2124 and Shelomith.8019

21 And Rehoboam7346 loved157 Maachah4601 the daughter1323 of Absalom53 above all3605 his wives802 and his concubines:6370 (for he took5375 eighteen8083 6240 wives,802 and three score8346 concubines;6370 and begat3205 twenty6242 and eight8083 sons,1121 and three score8346 daughters.1323)

22 And Rehoboam7346 made Abijah29 the son1121 of Maachah4601 the chief,7218 to be ruler5057 among his brothers:251 for he thought to make him king.4427

23 And he dealt wisely,995 and dispersed6555 of all3605 his children1121 throughout all3605 the countries776 of Judah3063 and Benjamin,1144 to every3605 fenced4694 city:5892 and he gave5414 them victual4202 in abundance.7230 And he desired7592 many1995 wives.802