2 Chronicles 11

NEW JERUSALEM	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
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 Then Rehoboam went to Jerusalem, and he called together the entire house of Judah and of Benjamin, one hundred eighty thousand elect men of war, so that he might contend against Israel, and turn back his kingdom to himself.
2 But the word of Yahweh came to Shemaiah, man of God,	2 And 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 to Rehoboam, the son of Solomon, the king of Judah, and to all of Israel who are of Judah, or of 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 shall not ascend and fight against your brothers. Let each one return to his own house. For it is by my will that this has happened.” And when they had heard the word of the Lord, they turned back, and they did not continue on against Jeroboam.
5 Rehoboam, residing in Jerusalem, fortified a number of towns for the defence of Judah.	5 Then Rehoboam lived in Jerusalem, and he built fortified cities in Judah.
6 He built Bethlehem, Etam, Tekoa,	6 And he built up Bethlehem, and Etam, and Tekoa,
7 Beth-Zur, Soco, Adul am,	7 and also Bethzur, and Soco, and Adullam,
8 Gath, Mareshah, Ziph,	8 indeed also Gath, and Mareshah, and Ziph,
9 Adoraim, Lachish, Azekah,	9 then too Adoram, and Lachish, and Azekah,
10 Zorah, Aijalon, Hebron, these being the fortified towns in Judah and Benjamin.	10 as well as Zorah, and Aijalon, and Hebron, which were very fortified cities in Judah and in Benjamin.
11 He equipped these fortresses, stationing commanders in them, with supplies of food, oil and wine,	11 And when he had enclosed them with walls, he placed in them rulers, and storehouses of provisions, that is, 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 Moreover, in each city he made an armory of shields and spears, and he strengthened them with the utmost diligence. And he ruled over Judah and Benjamin.
13 The priests and the Levites from all over Israel left their districts to put themselves at his disposal.	13 Then the priests and Levites, who were in all of Israel, came to him from all their settlements,
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 leaving behind their suburbs and possessions, and crossing over to Judah and to Jerusalem. For Jeroboam and his followers had cast them out, so that they could not exercise the priestly office to 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 appointed for himself priests of high places, and of demons, and of calves that 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 Moreover, out of all the tribes of Israel, whosoever would give their heart so that they sought the Lord God of Israel, they went to Jerusalem to immolate their victims before 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 And they strengthened the kingdom of Judah, and they confirmed Rehoboam, the son of Solomon, for three years. For they walked in the ways of David and of Solomon, but only for three years.
18 Rehoboam married Mahalath daughter of Jerimoth, son of David, and of Abihail daughter of Eliabson of Jesse,	18 Then Rehoboam took as wife Mahalath, the daughter of Jerimoth, son of David, and also Abihail, the daughter of Eliab, son of Jesse.
19 and she bore him sons: Jeush, Shemariah and Zaham.	19 They bore sons for him: Jeush, and Shemariah, and Zaham.
20 After her, he married Maacah daughter of Absalom, who bore him Abijah, Attai, Ziza and Shelomith.	20 And also after her, he married Maacah, the daughter of Absalom, who bore for 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 But Rehoboam loved Maacah, the daughter of Absalom, above all his wives and concubines. For he had taken eighteen wives and sixty concubines. And he conceived 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 Truly, he appointed as the head, Abijah, the son of Maacah, to be the ruler over all his brothers. 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 since he was wiser and more powerful than all his sons, even in all the regions of Judah and Benjamin, and in all the fortified cities. And he provided them with very much food, and he sought many wives.