1And when Rehoboam was come to Jerusalem, he gathered of the house of Judah and Benjamin ninescore thousand chosen men of war to fight against Israel, and to bring the kingdom again to Rehoboam.
2But the word of the Lord came to Shemaiah the man of God, saying,
3Speak unto Rehoboam the son of Solomon King of Judah, and to all Israel that are in Judah and Benjamin, saying,
4Thus 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. They obeyed therefore the word of the Lord, and returned from going against Jeroboam.
5And Rehoboam dwelt in Jerusalem, and built strong cities in Judah.
6He built also Bethlehem, and Etam, and Tekoa,
7And Beth Zur, and Sochoh, and Adullam,
8And Gath, Mareshah, and Ziph,
9And Adoraim, and Lachish, and Azekah,
10And Zorah, and Aijalon, and Hebron, which were in Judah and Benjamin strong cities.
11And he repaired the strongholds and put captains in them, and store of vittles, and oil and wine.
12And in all cities he put shields and spears and made them exceedingly strong: so Judah and Benjamin were his.
13And the Priests and the Levites that were in all Israel, resorted unto him out of all their coasts.
14For the Levites left their suburbs and their possessions, and came to Judah and to Jerusalem: for Jeroboam and his sons had cast them out from ministering in the Priests’ office unto the Lord.
15And he ordained him Priests for the high places, and for the devils and for the calves which he had made.
16And after the Levites there came to Jerusalem of all the tribes of Israel, such as set their hearts to seek the Lord God of Israel, to offer unto the Lord God of their fathers.
17So they strengthened the kingdom of Judah, and made Rehoboam the son of Solomon mighty, three years long: for three years they walked in the way of David and Solomon.
18And Rehoboam took him Mahalath the daughter of Jerimoth the son of David to wife, and Abihail the daughter of Eliah the son of Jesse,
19Which bare him sons Jeush, and Shamariah, and Zaham.
20And after her he took Maachah the daughter of Absalom which bare him Abijah, and Attai, and Ziza, and Shelomith.
21And Rehoboam loved Maachah the daughter of Absalom above all his wives and his concubines: for he took eighteen wives and threescore concubines, and begat eight and twenty sons, and threescore daughters.
22And Rehoboam made Abijah the son of Maachah the chief ruler among his brethren: for he thought to make him King.
23And he taught him: and dispersed all his sons throughout all the countries of Judah and Benjamin unto every strong city: and he gave them abundance of vittles, and desired many wives.