2 Chronicles 11

CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN	NEW AMERICAN 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 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 Shemaiah, the man of God, saying:	2 However, the word of the LORD came to Shemaiah, a man of God:
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 "Say to Rehoboam, son of Solomon, king of Judah, and to all the Israelites in Judah and Benjamin:
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 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 Then Rehoboam lived in Jerusalem, and he built fortified cities in Judah.	5 Rehoboam took up residence in Jerusalem and built fortified cities in Judah.
6 And he built up Bethlehem, and Etam, and Tekoa,	6 He built up Bethlehem, Etam, Tekoa,
7 and also Bethzur, and Soco, and Adullam,	7 Beth-zur, Soco, Adullam,
8 indeed also Gath, and Mareshah, and Ziph,	8 Gath, Mareshah, Ziph,
9 then too Adoram, and Lachish, and Azekah,	9 Adoraim, Lachish, Azekah,
10 as well as Zorah, and Aijalon, and Hebron, which were very fortified cities in Judah and in Benjamin.	10 Zorah, Aijalon, and Hebron; these were fortified cities in Judah and Benjamin.
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 Then he strengthened the fortifications and put commanders in them, with supplies of food, 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 In every city were shields and spears, and he made them very strong. Thus Judah and Benjamin remained his.
13 Then the priests and Levites, who were in all of Israel, came to him from all their settlements,	13 Now the priests and Levites throughout Israel presented themselves to him from all parts of their land,
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 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 appointed for himself priests of high places, and of demons, and of calves that 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 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 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 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 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 Then Rehoboam took as wife Mahalath, the daughter of Jerimoth, son of David, and also Abihail, the daughter of Eliab, son 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 They bore sons for him: Jeush, and Shemariah, and Zaham.	19 She bore him sons: Jehush, Shemariah 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 After her, he married Maacah, daughter of Absalom, who bore him Abijah, Attai, 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 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 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 Rehoboam constituted Abijah, son of Maacah, commander among his brothers, for he intended 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 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.