2 Chronicles, 11

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.

1. Rehoboam went to Jerusalem and called together the tribes of Judah and Benjamin, a hundred and eighty thousand selected warriors, to fight the northern tribes of Israel and win back the kingdom of Rehoboam.

2. But the word of the LORD came to Shemaiah the man of God, saying,

2. But the word of Yahweh came to the prophet Shemaiah,

3. Speak unto Rehoboam the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and to all Israel in Judah and Benjamin, saying,

3. "Say this to Rehoboam son of Solomon, king of Judah, and to all the Israelites in Judah and Benjamin, 'Yahweh says this:

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.

4. Do not attack your fellow Israelites; let everyone go home, for what has happened is my doing."

5. And Rehoboam dwelt in Jerusalem, and built cities for defence in Judah.

5. They obeyed Yahweh's command and went back, instead of fighting against Jeroboam. Rehoboam lived in Jerusalem and built fortified towns in Judah.

6. He built even Bethlehem, and Etam, and Tekoa,

6. He rebuilt Bethlehem, Etam, Tekoa,

7. And Bethzur, and Shoco, and Adullam,

7. Bethzur, Soco, Adullam,

8. And Gath, and Mareshah, and Ziph,

8. Gath, Mareshah, Ziph,

9. And Adoraim, and Lachish, and Azekah,

9. Adoraim, Lachish, Azekah,

10. And Zorah, and Aijalon, and Hebron, which [are] in Judah and in Benjamin fenced cities.

10. Zorah, Aijalon, Hebron; these were fortified towns in Judah and Benjamin.

11. And he fortified the strong holds, and put captains in them, and store of victual, and of oil and wine.

11. He fortified them with walls and put commanders in them with stores of food, 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.

12. In each of these towns were shields and spears. He made them very strong to keep Judah and Benjamin under control.

13. And the priests and the Levites that [were] in all Israel resorted to him out of all their coasts.

13. From all the territory of Israel, priests and Levites came south to Judah.

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:

14. The Levites, indeed, abandoned their pasture lands and their holdings, and came to Judah and Jerusalem, since Jeroboam and his sons did not recognize them as the only priests of Yahweh

15. And he ordained him priests for the high places, and for the devils, and for the calves which he had made.

15. and had appointed priests of his own to serve at the High places to worship the goats and the bullcalves 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.

16. Members of all the tribes of Israel, people who sincerely wanted to worship Yahweh the God of Israel, followed them and came to Jerusalem to sacrifice to Yahweh, the God of their ancestors.

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.

17. These Israelites added strength to the kingdom of Judah, and gave their support to Rehoboam son of Solomon for three years, because during three years he followed the example 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;

18. Rehoboam took as wife Mahalath the daughter of Jerimoth, son of David and of Abihail, daughter of Eliab, son of Jesse.

19. Which bare him children; Jeush, and Shamariah, and Zaham.

19. She bore him sons: Jeush, Shemariah and Zaham.

20. And after her he took Maachah the daughter of Absalom; which bare 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. 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.)

21. Rehoboam loved Maacah, daughter of Absalom, more than all his other wives and concubines. He had in fact a total of eighteen wives and sixty concubines, twenty-eight sons and sixty 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.

22. Rehoboam favored Abijah, Maacah's son over all his other children, choosing him as the one to succeed him as 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.

23. Rehoboam ruled prudently by scattering his sons throughout Judah and Benjamin in the fortified towns, where he provided them with generous provisions and many wives.