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The Second Book of the Chronicles

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- Chapter 11 -

(1 Kings 12:20–24)
1
When Rehoboam arrived in Jerusalem, he assembled the house of Judah and Benjamin, 180,000 chosen men who were soldiers, to fight against Israel, to restore the kingdom to Rehoboam.
2
But the word of Yahweh came to Shemaiah, the man of God,
3
“Say to Rehoboam son of Solomon, king of Judah, and to all Israel in Judah and Benjamin,
4
’Yahweh says this, “You must not attack or make war against your brothers. Everyone must return to his own house, for I have caused this to happen.”’ So they obeyed the words of Yahweh and turned back from attacking Jeroboam.

Rehoboam Fortifies Judah

5
Rehoboam lived in Jerusalem and built cities in Judah for defense.
6
He built Bethlehem, Etam, Tekoa,
7
Bethzur, Soco, Adullam,
8
Gath, Mareshah, Ziph,
9
Adoraim, Lachish, Azekah,
10
Zorah, Aijalon, and Hebron. These are fortified cities in Judah and Benjamin.
11
He fortified the fortresses and put commanders in them, with stores of food, oil, and wine.
12
He put shields and spears in all the cities and made them very strong. So Judah and Benjamin belonged to him.

Jeroboam Forsakes the Priests and Levites

13
The priests and the Levites who were in all Israel went over to him from within their borders.
14
For the Levites left their pasturelands and property in order to come to Judah and Jerusalem, for Jeroboam and his sons had driven them away, so that they could no longer perform priestly duties for Yahweh.
15
Jeroboam appointed for himself priests for the high places and the goat and calf idols he had made.
16
People from all the tribes of Israel came after them, those who set their hearts to seek Yahweh, the God of Israel; they came to Jerusalem to sacrifice to Yahweh, the God of their fathers.
17
So they strengthened the kingdom of Judah and made Rehoboam son of Solomon strong during three years, and they walked for three years in the way of David and Solomon.

Rehoboam’s Family

18
Rehoboam took a wife for himself: Mahalath, the daughter of Jerimoth, David’s son, and of Abihail, the daughter of Eliab, Jesse’s son.
19
She bore him sons: Jeush, Shemariah, and Zaham.
20
After Mahalath, Rehoboam took Maacah, Absalom’s daughter; she bore him Abijah, Attai, Ziza, and Shelomith.
21
Rehoboam loved Maacah, Absalom’s daughter, more than all his other wives and his concubines, he took eighteen wives and sixty concubines, and became the father of twenty-eight sons and sixty daughters.
22
Rehoboam appointed Abijah son of Maacah to be chief, a leader among his brothers; he had the thought of making him king.
23
Rehoboam ruled wisely; he scattered all his sons throughout all the land of Judah and Benjamin to every fortified city. He also gave them food in abundance and looked for many wives for them.
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(1 Kings 12:20–24)
1
When Rehoboam had come to Jerusalem, he assembled the house of Judah and Benjamin, one hundred eighty thousand chosen men who were warriors, to fight against Israel, to bring the kingdom again to Rehoboam.
2
But the LORD’s word came to Shemaiah the man of God, saying,
3
“Speak to Rehoboam the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and to all Israel in Judah and Benjamin, saying,
4
‘The LORD says, “You shall not go up, nor fight against your brothers! Every man return to his house; for this thing is of me.”’” So they listened to the LORD’s words, and returned from going against Jeroboam.

Rehoboam Fortifies Judah

5
Rehoboam lived in Jerusalem, and built cities for defense in Judah.
6
He built Bethlehem, Etam, Tekoa,
7
Beth Zur, Soco, Adullam,
8
Gath, Mareshah, Ziph,
9
Adoraim, Lachish, Azekah,
10
Zorah, Aijalon, and Hebron, which are fortified cities in Judah and in Benjamin.
11
He fortified the strongholds and put captains in them with stores of food, oil and wine.
12
He put shields and spears in every city, and made them exceedingly strong. Judah and Benjamin belonged to him.

Jeroboam Forsakes the Priests and Levites

13
The priests and the Levites who were in all Israel stood with him out of all their territory.
14
For the Levites left their pasture lands and their possessions, and came to Judah and Jerusalem; for Jeroboam and his sons cast them off, that they should not execute the priest’s office to the LORD.
15
He himself appointed priests for the high places, for the male goat and calf idols which he had made.
16
After them, out of all the tribes of Israel, those who set their hearts to seek the LORD, the God of Israel, came to Jerusalem to sacrifice to the LORD, the God of their fathers.
17
So they strengthened the kingdom of Judah and made Rehoboam the son of Solomon strong for three years, for they walked three years in the way of David and Solomon.

Rehoboam’s Family

18
Rehoboam took a wife for himself, Mahalath the daughter of Jerimoth the son of David and of Abihail the daughter of Eliab the son of Jesse.
19
She bore him sons: Jeush, Shemariah, and Zaham.
20
After her, he took Maacah the granddaughter of Absalom; and she bore him Abijah, Attai, Ziza, and Shelomith.
21
Rehoboam loved Maacah the granddaughter of Absalom above all his wives and his concubines; for he took eighteen wives and sixty concubines, and became the father of twenty-eight sons and sixty daughters.
22
Rehoboam appointed Abijah the son of Maacah to be chief, the prince among his brothers, for he intended to make him king.
23
He dealt wisely, and dispersed some of his sons throughout all the lands of Judah and Benjamin, to every fortified city. He gave them food in abundance; and he sought many wives for them.
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