2 Chronicles 11

NEW JERUSALEM	KING JAMES BIBLE
1 When Rehoboam reached Jerusalem, he mustered a hundred and eighty thousand picked warriors ofthe House of Judah and Benjamin to fight Israel and win back the kingdom for Rehoboam.	1 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.
2 But the word of Yahweh came to Shemaiah, man of God,	2 But the word of the LORD came to Shemaiah the man of God, saying,
3 'Say this to Rehoboam son of Solomon, king of Judah, and to al Israel in Judah and Benjamin,	3 Speak unto Rehoboam the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and to all Israel in Judah and Benjamin, saying,
4 "Yahweh says this: Do not go and make war on your brothers; let everyone go home, for this is mydoing." ' They obeyed Yahweh's command and went back instead of marching against Jeroboam.	4 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.
5 Rehoboam, residing in Jerusalem, fortified a number of towns for the defence of Judah.	5 And Rehoboam dwelt in Jerusalem, and built cities for defence in Judah.
6 He built Bethlehem, Etam, Tekoa,	6 He built even Bethlehem, and Etam, and Tekoa,
7 Beth-Zur, Soco, Adul am,	7 And Beth-zur, and Shoco, and Adullam,
8 Gath, Mareshah, Ziph,	8 And Gath, and Mareshah, and Ziph,
9 Adoraim, Lachish, Azekah,	9 And Adoraim, and Lachish, and Azekah,
10 Zorah, Aijalon, Hebron, these being the fortified towns in Judah and Benjamin.	10 And Zorah, and Aijalon, and Hebron, which are in Judah and in Benjamin fenced cities.
11 He equipped these fortresses, stationing commanders in them, with supplies of food, oil and wine,	11 And he fortified the strong holds, and put captains in them, and store of victual, and of oil and wine.
12 and shields and spears in each of these towns, making them extremely strong and thus retainingcontrol of Judah and Benjamin.	12 And in every several city he put shields and spears, and made them exceeding strong, having Judah and Benjamin on his side.
13 The priests and the Levites from all over Israel left their districts to put themselves at his disposal.	13 And the priests and the Levites that were in all Israel resorted to him out of all their coasts.
14 The Levites, indeed, abandoned their pasture lands and their holdings and came to Judah andJerusalem because Jeroboam and his sons had excluded them from the priesthood of Yahweh.	14 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:
15 Jeroboam had appointed his own priests for the high places dedicated to the satyrs and calves whichhe had made.	15 And he ordained him priests for the high places, and for the devils, and for the calves which he had made.
16 And those members of al the tribes of Israel who were determined to seek Yahweh, God of Israel,fol owed those priests and Levites to Jerusalem to sacrifice to Yahweh, God of their ancestors.	16 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.
17 These added strength to the kingdom of Judah and gave their support to Rehoboam son of Solomonfor three years. For three years they remained loyal to David and Solomon.	17 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.
18 Rehoboam married Mahalath daughter of Jerimoth, son of David, and of Abihail daughter of Eliabson of Jesse,	18 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;
19 and she bore him sons: Jeush, Shemariah and Zaham.	19 Which bare him children; Jeush, and Shamariah, and Zaham.
20 After her, he married Maacah daughter of Absalom, who bore him Abijah, Attai, Ziza and Shelomith.	20 And after her he took Maachah the daughter of Absalom; which bare him Abijah, and Attai, and Ziza, and Shelomith.
21 Rehoboam loved Maacah daughter of Absalom, more than all his other wives and concubines. Hehad in fact a total of eighteen wives and sixty concubines and fathered twenty-eight sons and sixty daughters.	21 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.)
22 Rehoboam named Abijah son of Maacah as head, hence leader, of his brothers, with a view tomaking him king,	22 And Rehoboam made Abijah the son of Maachah the chief, to be ruler among his brethren: for he thought to make him king.
23 and acted wisely by distributing his sons throughout the territories of Judah and Benjamin, some ineach fortified town, where he provided plenty of food for them and found them wives.	23 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.