2 Chronicles 11

Rehoboam Reigns over Judah and Builds Cities

11Now when RehoboamH7346 had comeH935 to JerusalemH3389, he assembledH6950 the houseH1004 of JudahH3063 and BenjaminH1144, 180,000H3967H8084H505 chosenH977 warriorsH6213H4421, to fightH3898 againstH5973 IsraelH3478 to restoreH7725 the kingdomH4467 to RehoboamH7346. 2But the wordH1697 of the LordH3068 cameH1961 to 2ShemaiahH8098 the manH376 of GodH430, sayingH559, 3“TellH559 RehoboamH7346 the sonH1121 of SolomonH8010, kingH4428 of JudahH3063, and allH3605 IsraelH3478 in JudahH3063 and BenjaminH1144, sayingH559, 4‘ThisH3541 isH3541 whatH3541 the LordH3068 saysH559: “You shall not goH5927 upH5927 nor fightH3898 againstH5973 3your relativesH251; returnH7725, everyH376 manH376, to his houseH1004, 4for thisH2088 5eventH1697 is from Me.”’” So they listenedH8085 to the wordsH1697 of the LordH3068 and returnedH7725 from goingH1980 againstH413 JeroboamH3379.

5RehoboamH7346 livedH3427 in JerusalemH3389 and 6builtH1129 citiesH5892 for defenseH4692 in JudahH3063. 6He builtH1129 BethlehemH1035, EtamH5862, TekoaH8620, 7Beth-zurH1049, SocoH7755, AdullamH5725, 8GathH1661, MareshahH4762, ZiphH2128, 9AdoraimH115, LachishH3923, AzekahH5825, 10ZorahH6881, AijalonH357, and HebronH2275, whichH834 are fortifiedH4694 citiesH5892 in JudahH3063 and BenjaminH1144. 11He also strengthenedH2388 the fortressesH4694 and putH5414 officersH5057 in them and suppliesH214 of foodH3978, oilH8081, and wineH3196. 12He put shieldsH6793 and spearsH7420 in everyH3605 cityH5892 and strengthenedH2388 them greatlyH7235H3966. So he heldH1961 JudahH3063 and BenjaminH1144.

13Moreover, the priestsH3548 and the LevitesH3881 whoH834 were in allH3605 IsraelH3478 also stoodH3320 with him from allH3605 their districtsH1366.

Jeroboam Appoints False Priests

14For 7the LevitesH3881 leftH5800 their pastureH4054 landsH4054 and their propertyH272 and wentH1980 to JudahH3063 and JerusalemH3389, because 8JeroboamH3379 and his sonsH1121 had excludedH2186 them from servingH3547 asH3547 priestsH3547 to the LordH3068. 159He setH5975 up priestsH3548 of his own for the highH1116 placesH1116, for the satyrsH8163 and the calvesH5695 whichH834 he had madeH6213. 1610Those from allH3605 the tribesH7626 of IsraelH3478 who setH5414 their heartsH3824 on seekingH1245 the LordH3068 GodH430 of IsraelH3478 11followedH935 them to JerusalemH3389, to sacrificeH2076 to the LordH3068 GodH430 of their fathersH1. 1712They strengthenedH2388 the kingdomH4438 of JudahH3063 and supportedH553 RehoboamH7346 the sonH1121 of SolomonH8010 for threeH7969 yearsH8141, for they walkedH1980 in the wayH1870 of DavidH1732 and SolomonH8010 for threeH7969 yearsH8141.

Rehoboam’s Family

18Then RehoboamH7346 marriedH3947H802 MahalathH4258 the daughterH1323 of JerimothH3406 the sonH1121 of DavidH1732 and of AbihailH32 the daughterH1323 of 13EliabH446 the sonH1121 of JesseH3448, 19and she boreH3205 to him sonsH1121: JeushH3266, ShemariahH8114, and ZahamH2093. 20AfterH310 her he marriedH3947 14MaacahH4601 the daughterH1323 of 15AbsalomH53, and she boreH3205 to him AbijahH29, AttaiH6262, ZizaH2124, and ShelomithH8019. 21RehoboamH7346 lovedH157 MaacahH4601 the daughterH1323 of AbsalomH53 moreH4480 thanH4480 allH3605 his other wivesH802 and concubinesH6370. For 16he had takenH5375 eighteenH8083H6240 wivesH802 and sixtyH8346 concubinesH6370, and fatheredH3205 twenty-eightH6242H8083 sonsH1121 and sixtyH8346 daughtersH1323. 2217RehoboamH7346 appointedH5975 AbijahH29 the sonH1121 of MaacahH4601 as headH7218 and leaderH5057 among his brothersH251, for he intended to makeH4427 him kingH4427. 23He actedH995 wiselyH995 and distributedH6555 18someH4480 of his sonsH1121 through allH3605 the territoriesH776 of JudahH3063 and BenjaminH1144 to allH3605 the fortifiedH4694 citiesH5892, and he gaveH5414 them plentyH7230 of provisionsH4202. And he soughtH7592 manyH1995 wivesH802 for them.