2 Chronicles 11

NEW AMERICAN BIBLE	KING JAMES BIBLE
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.	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 However, the word of the LORD came to Shemaiah, a man of God:	2 But the word of the LORD came to Shemaiah the man of God, saying,
3 "Say to Rehoboam, son of Solomon, king of Judah, and to all the Israelites 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 '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.	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 took up residence in Jerusalem and built fortified cities in Judah.	5 And Rehoboam dwelt in Jerusalem, and built cities for defence in Judah.
6 He built up Bethlehem, Etam, Tekoa,	6 He built even Bethlehem, and Etam, and Tekoa,
7 Beth-zur, Soco, Adullam,	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, and Hebron; these were fortified cities in Judah and Benjamin.	10 And Zorah, and Aijalon, and Hebron, which are in Judah and in Benjamin fenced cities.
11 Then he strengthened the fortifications and put 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 In every city were shields and spears, and he made them very strong. Thus Judah and Benjamin remained his.	12 And in every several city he put shields and spears, and made them exceeding strong, having Judah and Benjamin on his side.
13 Now the priests and Levites throughout Israel presented themselves to him from all parts of their land,	13 And the priests and the Levites that were in all Israel resorted to him out of all their coasts.
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.	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 In their place, he himself appointed priests for the high places and satyrs and calves he 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 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.	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 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.	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 took to himself as wife Mahalath, daughter of Jerimoth, son of David and of Abihail, daughter of Eliab, son 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 She bore him sons: Jehush, 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; he had taken eighteen wives and sixty concubines, and he 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 constituted Abijah, son of Maacah, commander among his brothers, for he intended to make 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 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.	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.