And when Rehoboam{H7346} was come{H935} to Jerusalem,{H3389} he assembled{H6950} the house{H1004} of Judah{H3063} and Benjamin,{H1144} a hundred{H3967} and fourscore{H8084} thousand{H505} chosen{H977} men, that were warriors,{H6213} to fight{H3898} against Israel,{H3478} to bring{H7725} the kingdom{H4467} again{H7725} to Rehoboam.{H7346}

But the word{H1697} of Jehovah{H3068} came to Shemaiah{H8098} the man{H376} of God,{H430} saying,{H559}

Speak{H559} unto Rehoboam{H7346} the son{H1121} of Solomon,{H8010} king{H4428} of Judah,{H3063} and to all Israel{H3478} in Judah{H3063} and Benjamin,{H1144} saying,{H559}

Thus saith{H559} Jehovah,{H3068} Ye shall not go up,{H5927} nor fight{H3898} against your brethren:{H251} return{H7725} every man{H376} to his house;{H1004} for this thing{H1697} is of{H1961} me. So they hearkened{H8085} unto the words{H1697} of Jehovah,{H3068} and returned{H7725} from going{H3212} against Jeroboam.{H3379}

And Rehoboam{H7346} dwelt{H3427} in Jerusalem,{H3389} and built{H1129} cities{H5892} for defence{H4692} in Judah.{H3063}

He built{H1129} Beth-lehem,{H1035} and Etam,{H5862} and Tekoa,{H8620}

And Beth-zur,{H1049} and Soco,{H7755} and Adullam,{H5725}

and Gath,{H1661} and Mareshah,{H4762} and Ziph,{H2128}

and Adoraim,{H115} and Lachish,{H3923} and Azekah,{H5825}

and Zorah,{H6881} and Aijalon,{H357} and Hebron,{H2275} which are in Judah{H3063} and in Benjamin,{H1144} fortified{H4694} cities.{H5892}

And he fortified{H2388} the strongholds,{H4694} and put{H5414} captains{H5057} in them, and stores{H214} of victuals,{H3978} and oil{H8081} and wine.{H3196}

And in every city{H5892} [he put] shields{H6793} and spears,{H7420} and made them exceeding{H7235} strong.{H2388} And Judah{H3063} and Benjamin{H1144} belonged to him.

And the priests{H3548} and the Levites{H3881} that were in all Israel{H3478} resorted{H3320} to him out of all their border.{H1366}

For the Levites{H3881} left{H5800} their suburbs{H4054} and their possession,{H272} and came{H3212} to Judah{H3063} and Jerusalem:{H3389} for Jeroboam{H3379} and his sons{H1121} cast them off,{H2186} that they should not execute the priest's office{H3547} unto Jehovah;{H3068}

and he appointed{H5975} him priests{H3548} for the high places,{H1116} and for the he-goats,{H8163} and for the calves{H5695} which he had made.{H6213}

And after{H310} them, out of all the tribes{H7626} of Israel,{H3478} such as set{H5414} their hearts{H3824} to seek{H1245} Jehovah,{H3068} the God{H430} of Israel,{H3478} came{H935} to Jerusalem{H3389} to sacrifice{H2076} unto Jehovah,{H3068} the God{H430} of their fathers.{H1}

So they strengthened{H2388} the kingdom{H4438} of Judah,{H3063} and made Rehoboam{H7346} the son{H1121} of Solomon{H8010} strong,{H553} three{H7969} years;{H8141} for they walked{H1980} three{H7969} years{H8141} in the way{H1870} of David{H1732} and Solomon.{H8010}

And Rehoboam{H7346} took{H3947} him a wife,{H802} Mahalath{H4258} the daughter{H1323} of Jerimoth{H3406} the son{H1121} of David,{H1732} [and of] Abihail{H32} the daughter{H1323} of Eliab{H446} the son{H1121} of Jesse;{H3448}

and she bare{H3205} him sons:{H1121} Jeush,{H3266} and Shemariah,{H8114} and Zaham.{H2093}

And after{H310} her he took{H3947} Maacah{H4601} the daughter{H1323} of Absalom;{H53} and she bare{H3205} him Abijah,{H29} and Attai,{H6262} and Ziza,{H2124} and Shelomith.{H8019}

And Rehoboam{H7346} loved{H157} Maacah{H4601} the daughter{H1323} of Absalom{H53} above all his wives{H802} and his concubines:{H6370} (for he took{H5375} eighteen{H8083} wives,{H802} and threescore{H8346} concubines,{H6370} and begat{H3205} twenty{H6242} and eight{H8083} sons{H1121} and threescore{H8346} daughters.){H1323}

And Rehoboam{H7346} appointed{H5975} Abijah{H29} the son{H1121} of Maacah{H4601} to be chief,{H7218} [even] the prince{H7218} among his brethren;{H251} for [he was minded] to make him king.{H4427}

And he dealt wisely,{H995} and dispersed{H6555} of all his sons{H1121} throughout all the lands{H776} of Judah{H3063} and Benjamin,{H1144} unto every fortified{H4694} city:{H5892} and he gave{H5414} them victuals{H4202} in abundance.{H7230} And he sought{H7592} [for them] many{H1995} wives.{H802}