2 Chronicles 11

CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN	KING JAMES BIBLE
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.	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 And the word of the Lord came to Shemaiah, the man of God, saying:	2 But the word of the LORD came to Shemaiah the man of God, saying,
3 “Speak to Rehoboam, the son of Solomon, the king of Judah, and to all of Israel who are of Judah, or of 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 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.	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 Then Rehoboam lived in Jerusalem, and he built fortified cities in Judah.	5 And Rehoboam dwelt in Jerusalem, and built cities for defence in Judah.
6 And he built up Bethlehem, and Etam, and Tekoa,	6 He built even Bethlehem, and Etam, and Tekoa,
7 and also Bethzur, and Soco, and Adullam,	7 And Beth-zur, and Shoco, and Adullam,
8 indeed also Gath, and Mareshah, and Ziph,	8 And Gath, and Mareshah, and Ziph,
9 then too Adoram, and Lachish, and Azekah,	9 And Adoraim, and Lachish, and Azekah,
10 as well as Zorah, and Aijalon, and Hebron, which were very fortified cities in Judah and in Benjamin.	10 And Zorah, and Aijalon, and Hebron, which are in Judah and in Benjamin fenced cities.
11 And when he had enclosed them with walls, he placed in them rulers, and storehouses of provisions, that is, of 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 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.	12 And in every several city he put shields and spears, and made them exceeding strong, having Judah and Benjamin on his side.
13 Then the priests and Levites, who were in all of Israel, came to him from all their settlements,	13 And the priests and the Levites that were in all Israel resorted to him out of all their coasts.
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.	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 And he appointed for himself priests of high places, and of demons, and of calves that 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 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.	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 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.	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 Then Rehoboam took as wife Mahalath, the daughter of Jerimoth, son of David, and also Abihail, the 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 They bore sons for him: Jeush, and Shemariah, and Zaham.	19 Which bare him children; Jeush, and Shamariah, and Zaham.
20 And also after her, he married Maacah, the daughter of Absalom, who bore for him Abijah, and Attai, and 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 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.	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 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,	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 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.	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.