2 Chronicles 11

DOUAI-RHEIMS	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 And Roboam came to Jerusalem, and called together all the house of Juda and of Benjamin, a hundred and fourscore thousand chosen men and warriors, to fight against Israel, and to bring back his kingdom to him.	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 And the word of the Lord came to Semeias the man of God, saying:	2 However, the word of the LORD came to Shemaiah, a man of God:
3 Speak to Roboam the son of Solomon the king of Juda, and to all Israel, in Juda and Benjamin:	3 "Say to Rehoboam, son of Solomon, king of Judah, and to all the Israelites in Judah and Benjamin:
4 Thus saith the Lord: You shall not go up, nor fight against your brethren: let every man return to his own house, for by my will this thing has been done. And when they heard the word of the Lord, they returned, and did not go 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 And Roboam dwelt in Jerusalem, and built walled cities in Juda.	5 Rehoboam took up residence in Jerusalem and built fortified cities in Judah.
6 And he built Bethlehem, and Etam, and Thecue,	6 He built up Bethlehem, Etam, Tekoa,
7 And Bethsur, and Socho, and Odollam,	7 Beth-zur, Soco, Adullam,
8 And Geth, and Maresa, and Ziph,	8 Gath, Mareshah, Ziph,
9 And Aduram, and Lachis, and Azecha,	9 Adoraim, Lachish, Azekah,
10 Saraa also, and Aialon, and Hebron, which are in Juda and Benjamin, well fenced cities.	10 Zorah, Aijalon, and Hebron; these were fortified cities in Judah and Benjamin.
11 And when he had enclosed them with walls, he put in them governors and storehouses of provisions, that is, of oil and of wine.	11 Then he strengthened the fortifications and put commanders in them, with supplies of food, oil and wine.
12 Moreover in every city he made an armoury of shields and spears, and he fortified them with great diligence, and he reigned over Juda, and Benjamin,	12 In every city were shields and spears, and he made them very strong. Thus Judah and Benjamin remained his.
13 And the priests and Levites, that were in all Israel, came to him out of all their seats,	13 Now the priests and Levites throughout Israel presented themselves to him from all parts of their land,
14 Leaving their suburbs, and their possessions, and passing over to Juda, and Jerusalem, because Jeroboam and his sons had cast them off, from executing the priestly office to the Lord.	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 And he made to himself priests for the high places, and for the devils, and for the calves which he had made.	15 In their place, he himself appointed priests for the high places and satyrs and calves he had made.
16 Moreover out of all the tribes of Israel, whosoever gave their heart to seek the Lord the God of Israel, came into Jerusalem to sacrifice their victims before the Lord the God of their fathers.	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 And they strengthened the kingdom of Juda, and established Roboam the son of Solomon for three years: for they walked in the ways of David and of Solomon, only three years.	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 And Roboam took to wife Mahalath, the daughter of Jerimoth the son of David: and Abihail the daughter of Eliab the son of Isai.	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 they bore him sons Jehus, and Somorias, and Zoom.	19 She bore him sons: Jehush, Shemariah and Zaham.
20 And after her he married Maacha the daughter of Absalom, who bore him Abia and Ethai, and Ziza, and Salomith.	20 After her, he married Maacah, daughter of Absalom, who bore him Abijah, Attai, Ziza and Shelomith.
21 And Roboam loved Maacha the daughter of Absalom above all his wives, and concubines: for he had married eighteen wives, and threescore concubines: and he beget eight and twenty sons, and threescore 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 But he put at the head of them Abia the son of Maacha to be the chief ruler over all his brethren: for he meant to make him king,	22 Rehoboam constituted Abijah, son of Maacah, commander among his brothers, for he intended to make him king.
23 Because he was wiser and mightier than all his sons, and in all the countries of Juda, and of Benjamin, and in all the walled cities: and he gave them provisions in abundance, and he sought many 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.