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.
02 But the word of the Lord came to Shemaiah the
man of God, saying,
03 Speak unto Rehoboam the son of Solomon, king
of Judah, and to all Israel in Judah and
Benjamin, saying,
04 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.
05 And Rehoboam dwelt in Jerusalem, and built
cities for defence in Judah.
06 He built even Bethlehem, and Etam, and Tekoa,
07 And Bethzur, and Shoco, and Adullam,
08 And Gath, and Mareshah, and Ziph,
09 And Adoraim, and Lachish, and Azekah,
10 And Zorah, and Aijalon, and Hebron, which are
in Judah and in Benjamin fenced cities.
11 And he fortified the strong holds, and put
captains in them, and store of victual, and of
oil and wine.
12 And in every several city he put shields and
spears, and made them exceeding strong, having
Judah and Benjamin on his side.
13 And the priests and the Levites that were in
all Israel resorted to him out of all their
coasts.
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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 ordained him priests for the high
places, and for the devils, and for the calves
which he had made.
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 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 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 Which bare him children; Jeush, and Shamariah,
and Zaham.
20 And after her he took Maachah the daughter of
Absalom; which bare him Abijah, and Attai, and
Ziza, and Shelomith.
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 And Rehoboam made Abijah the son of Maachah
the chief, to be ruler among his brethren: for he
thought to make him king.
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.
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