1 And when Rehoboam was come to Jerusalem, he gathered of the house of Judah and Benjamin an hundred and fourscore thousand chosen men, which were warriors, to fight against Israel, that he might bring the kingdom again to Rehoboam. Compare verse
2 But the word of the LORD came to Shemaiah the man of God, saying, Compare verse
3 Speak to Rehoboam the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and to all Israel in Judah and Benjamin, saying, Compare verse
4 Thus said the LORD, You shall not go up, nor fight against your brothers: return every man to his house: for this thing is done of me. And they obeyed the words of the LORD, and returned from going against Jeroboam. Compare verse
5 And Rehoboam dwelled in Jerusalem, and built cities for defense in Judah. Compare verse
6 He built even Bethlehem, and Etam, and Tekoa, Compare verse
7 And Bethzur, and Shoco, and Adullam, Compare verse
9 And Adoraim, and Lachish, and Azekah, Compare verse
10 And Zorah, and Aijalon, and Hebron, which are in Judah and in Benjamin fenced cities. Compare verse
11 And he fortified the strong holds, and put captains in them, and store of victual, and of oil and wine. Compare verse
12 And in every several city he put shields and spears, and made them exceeding strong, having Judah and Benjamin on his side. Compare verse
13 And the priests and the Levites that were in all Israel resorted to him out of all their coasts. Compare verse
14 For the Levites left their suburbs and their possession, and came to Judah and Jerusalem: for Jeroboam and his sons had cast them off from executing the priest's office to the LORD: Compare verse
15 And he ordained him priests for the high places, and for the devils, and for the calves which he had made. Compare verse
16 And after them out of all the tribes of Israel such as set their hearts to seek the LORD God of Israel came to Jerusalem, to sacrifice to the LORD God of their fathers. Compare verse
17 So they strengthened the kingdom of Judah, and made Rehoboam the son of Solomon strong, three years: for three years they walked in the way of David and Solomon. Compare verse
18 And Rehoboam took him Mahalath the daughter of Jerimoth the son of David to wife, and Abihail the daughter of Eliab the son of Jesse; Compare verse
19 Which bore him children; Jeush, and Shamariah, and Zaham. Compare verse
20 And after her he took Maachah the daughter of Absalom; which bore him Abijah, and Attai, and Ziza, and Shelomith. Compare verse
21 And Rehoboam loved Maachah the daughter of Absalom above all his wives and his concubines: (for he took eighteen wives, and three score concubines; and begat twenty and eight sons, and three score daughters.) Compare verse
22 And Rehoboam made Abijah the son of Maachah the chief, to be ruler among his brothers: for he thought to make him king. Compare verse
23 And he dealt wisely, and dispersed of all his children throughout all the countries of Judah and Benjamin, to every fenced city: and he gave them victual in abundance. And he desired many wives. Compare verse