Chapter 11

And when Rehoboam was come⁴ to Jerusalem, he gathered⁵⁵ of the house of Judah and Benjamin an hundred and fourscore thousand chosen⁷ [men], which were warriors,^{6 4421} to fight⁹ against Israel, that he might bring the kingdom again⁵³ to Rehoboam.

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

Speak³ unto Rehoboam the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and to all Israel in Judah and Benjamin, saying,²

Thus saith¹ the LORD, Ye shall not go up,⁴ nor fight¹¹ against your brethren: return³ every man to his house: for this thing is done⁸ of me. And they obeyed⁴ the words of the LORD, and returned⁴ from going² against Jeroboam.

And Rehoboam dwelt⁴ in Jerusalem, and built⁴ cities for defence in Judah.

He built⁴ even Bethlehem, and Etam, and Tekoa,

And Bethzur, and Shoco, and Adullam,

And Gath, and Mareshah, and Ziph,

And Adoraim, and Lachish, and Azekah,

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

And he fortified¹⁷ the strong holds, and put⁴ captains in them, and store of victual, and of oil and wine.

And in every several city ⁵⁸⁹² [he put] shields and spears, and made them exceeding^{53 3966} strong,¹⁷ having Judah and Benjamin on his side.

And the priests and the Levites that [were] in all Israel resorted⁹⁸ to him out of all their coasts.

For the Levites left¹ their suburbs and their possession, and came⁴ to Judah and Jerusalem: for Jeroboam and his sons had cast them off⁵² from executing the priest's office¹⁵ unto the LORD:

And he ordained⁵⁵ him priests for the high places, and for the devils, and for the calves which he had made.¹

And after them out of all the tribes of Israel such as set⁶ their hearts to seek¹⁵ the LORD God of Israel came¹ to Jerusalem, to sacrifice² unto the LORD God of their fathers.

So they strengthened¹⁷ the kingdom of Judah, and made Rehoboam the son of Solomon strong,¹⁷ three years: for three years they walked¹ in the way of David and Solomon.

And Rehoboam took⁴ him Mahalath the daughter ¹¹²¹ of Jerimoth the son of David to wife, [and] Abihail the daughter of Eliab the son of Jesse;

Which bare⁴ him children; Jeush, and Shamariah, and Zaham.

And after her he took¹ Maachah the daughter of Absalom; which bare⁴ him Abijah, and Attai, and Ziza, and Shelomith.

And Rehoboam loved⁴ Maachah the daughter of Absalom above all his wives and his concubines: (for he took¹ eighteen ⁶²⁴⁰ wives, and threescore concubines; and begat⁵⁵ twenty and eight sons, and threescore daughters.)

And Rehoboam made⁵⁵ Abijah the son of Maachah the chief, [to be] ruler among his brethren: for [he thought] to make him king.⁵³

And he dealt wisely,⁴ and dispersed⁴ of all his children throughout all the countries of Judah and Benjamin, unto every fenced city: and he gave⁴ them victual in abundance. And he desired⁴ many wives.