1And when Rehoboam was come to Jerusalem, he gathered of the house of Yahudah (Judah) and Benjamin an hundred and fourscore thousand chosen men, which were warriors, to fight against Yashar'el (Israel), that he might bring the kingdom again to Rehoboam.
2But the word of Yahuah (LORD) came to Shemaiah the man of Elohim (God), saying,
3Speak unto Rehoboam the son of Solomon, king of Yahudah (Judah), and to all Yashar'el (Israel) in Yahudah (Judah) and Benjamin, saying,
4Thus says Yahuah (LORD), You 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 Yahuah (LORD), and returned from going against Jeroboam.
5And Rehoboam dwelt in Jerusalem, and built cities for defence in Yahudah (Judah).
6He built even Beth-lehem, and Etam, and Tekoa,
7And Beth-zur, and Shoco, and Adullam,
8And Gath, and Mareshah, and Ziph,
9And Adoraim, and Lachish, and Azekah,
10And Zorah, and Aijalon, and Hebron, which are in Yahudah (Judah) and in Benjamin fenced cities.
11And he fortified the strong holds, and put captains in them, and store of victual, and of oil and wine.
12And in every several city he put shields and spears, and made them exceeding strong, having Yahudah (Judah) and Benjamin on his side.
13And the priests and the Levites that were in all Yashar'el (Israel) resorted to him out of all their coasts.
14For the Levites left their suburbs and their possession, and came to Yahudah (Judah) and Jerusalem: for Jeroboam and his sons had cast them off from executing the priest’s office unto Yahuah (LORD):
15And he ordained him priests for the high places, and for the devils, and for the calves which he had made.
16And after them out of all the tribes of Yashar'el (Israel) such as set their hearts to seek Yahuah Elohim (the LORD God) of Yashar'el (Israel) came to Jerusalem, to sacrifice unto Yahuah Elohim (the LORD God) of their fathers.
17So they strengthened the kingdom of Yahudah (Judah), and made Rehoboam the son of Solomon strong, three years: 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 Eliab the son of Jesse;
19Which bare him children; 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 twenty and eight sons, and threescore daughters.)
22And Rehoboam made Abijah the son of Maachah the chief, to be ruler among his brethren: for he thought to make him king.
23And he dealt wisely, and dispersed of all his children throughout all the countries of Yahudah (Judah) and Benjamin, unto every fenced city: and he gave them victual in abundance. And he desired many wives.