2 Chronicles 11:1-17

11Now when Rehoboam had come to Jerusalem, he assembled the house of Judah and Benjamin, 180,000 chosen warriors, to fight against Israel to restore the kingdom to Rehoboam. 2But the word of the Lord came to 2Shemaiah the man of God, saying, 3“Tell Rehoboam the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and all Israel in Judah and Benjamin, saying, 4‘This is what the Lord says: “You shall not go up nor fight against 3your relatives; return, every man, to his house, 4for this 5event is from Me.”’” So they listened to the words of the Lord and returned from going against Jeroboam.

5Rehoboam lived in Jerusalem and 6built cities for defense in Judah. 6He built Bethlehem, Etam, Tekoa, 7Beth-zur, Soco, Adullam, 8Gath, Mareshah, Ziph, 9Adoraim, Lachish, Azekah, 10Zorah, Aijalon, and Hebron, which are fortified cities in Judah and Benjamin. 11He also strengthened the fortresses and put officers in them and supplies of food, oil, and wine. 12He put shields and spears in every city and strengthened them greatly. So he held Judah and Benjamin.

13Moreover, the priests and the Levites who were in all Israel also stood with him from all their districts. 14For 7the Levites left their pasture lands and their property and went to Judah and Jerusalem, because 8Jeroboam and his sons had excluded them from serving as priests to the Lord. 159He set up priests of his own for the high places, for the satyrs and the calves which he had made. 1610Those from all the tribes of Israel who set their hearts on seeking the Lord God of Israel 11followed them to Jerusalem, to sacrifice to the Lord God of their fathers. 1712They strengthened the kingdom of Judah and supported Rehoboam the son of Solomon for three years, for they walked in the way of David and Solomon for three years.