2 Chronicles 11

NEW JERUSALEM	NEW AMERICAN 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 On his arrival in Jerusalem Rehoboam gathered together the house of Judah and Benjamin, a hundred and eighty thousand seasoned warriors, to have them fight against Israel and restore the kingdom to him.
2 But the word of Yahweh came to Shemaiah, man of God,	2 However, the word of the LORD came to Shemaiah, a man of God:
3 'Say this to Rehoboam son of Solomon, king of Judah, and to al Israel in Judah and Benjamin,	3 "Say to Rehoboam, son of Solomon, king of Judah, and to all the Israelites in Judah and Benjamin:
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 says the LORD: You must not march out to fight against your brothers. Let every man return home, for what has occurred I have brought about.'" They obeyed this message of the LORD and gave up the expedition against Jeroboam.
5 Rehoboam, residing in Jerusalem, fortified a number of towns for the defence of Judah.	5 Rehoboam took up residence in Jerusalem and built fortified cities in Judah.
6 He built Bethlehem, Etam, Tekoa,	6 He built up Bethlehem, Etam, Tekoa,
7 Beth-Zur, Soco, Adul am,	7 Beth-zur, Soco, Adullam,
8 Gath, Mareshah, Ziph,	8 Gath, Mareshah, Ziph,
9 Adoraim, Lachish, Azekah,	9 Adoraim, Lachish, Azekah,
10 Zorah, Aijalon, Hebron, these being the fortified towns in Judah and Benjamin.	10 Zorah, Aijalon, and Hebron; these were fortified cities in Judah and Benjamin.
11 He equipped these fortresses, stationing commanders in them, with supplies of food, oil and wine,	11 Then he strengthened the fortifications and put commanders in them, with supplies of food, 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 In every city were shields and spears, and he made them very strong. Thus Judah and Benjamin remained his.
13 The priests and the Levites from all over Israel left their districts to put themselves at his disposal.	13 Now the priests and Levites throughout Israel presented themselves to him from all parts of their land,
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 assigned pasture lands and their holdings and came to Judah and Jerusalem, because Jeroboam and his sons repudiated them as priests of the LORD.
15 Jeroboam had appointed his own priests for the high places dedicated to the satyrs and calves whichhe had made.	15 In their place, he himself appointed priests for the high places and satyrs and calves 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 After them, all those of the Israelite tribes who firmly desired to seek the LORD, the God of Israel, came to Jerusalem to sacrifice to the LORD, the 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 Thus they strengthened the kingdom of Judah and made Rehoboam, son of Solomon, prevail for three years; for they walked in the way of David and Solomon three years.
18 Rehoboam married Mahalath daughter of Jerimoth, son of David, and of Abihail daughter of Eliabson of Jesse,	18 Rehoboam took to himself as wife Mahalath, daughter of Jerimoth, son of David and of Abihail, daughter of Eliab, son of Jesse.
19 and she bore him sons: Jeush, Shemariah and Zaham.	19 She bore him sons: Jehush, Shemariah and Zaham.
20 After her, he married Maacah daughter of Absalom, who bore him Abijah, Attai, Ziza and Shelomith.	20 After her, he married Maacah, daughter of Absalom, who bore him Abijah, Attai, 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 Rehoboam loved Maacah, daughter of Absalom, more than all his other wives and concubines; he had taken eighteen wives and sixty concubines, and he fathered twenty-eight sons and sixty daughters.
22 Rehoboam named Abijah son of Maacah as head, hence leader, of his brothers, with a view tomaking him king,	22 Rehoboam constituted Abijah, son of Maacah, commander among his brothers, for he intended 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 He acted prudently, distributing various of his sons throughout all the districts of Judah and Benjamin, in all the fortified cities; and he furnished them with copious provisions and sought an abundance of wives for them.