The Second Book of The Chronicles
2Ch 11:1 And when Re-ho-bo´-am 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 Re-ho-bo´-am.
2Ch 11:2 But the word of the Lord came to She-ma´-iah the man of God, saying,
2Ch 11:3 Speak unto Re-ho-bo´-am the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and to all Israel in Judah and Benjamin, saying,
2Ch 11:4 Thus saith the Lord, Ye shall not go up, nor fight against your brethren: 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 Jer-o-bo´am.
2Ch 11:5 And Re-ho-bo´-am dwelt in Jerusalem, and built cities for defence in Judah.
2Ch 11:6 He built even Beth´–le-hem, and E´-tam, and Te-ko´-a,
2Ch 11:7 And Beth´–zur, and Sho´-co, and A-dul´-lam,
2Ch 11:8 And Gath, and Ma-re´-shah, and Ziph,
2Ch 11:9 And Ad-o-ra´-im, and La´-chish, and A-ze´-kah,
2Ch 11:10 And Zo´-rah, and Ai´-ja-lon, and He´-bron, which are in Judah and in Benjamin fenced cities.
2Ch 11:11 And he fortified the strong holds, and put captains in them, and store of victual, and of oil and wine.
2Ch 11:12 And in every several city he put shields and spears, and made them exceeding strong, having Judah and Benjamin on his side.
2Ch 11:13 And the priests and the Levites that were in all Israel resorted to him out of all their coasts.
2Ch 11:14 For the Levites left their suburbs and their possession, and came to Judah and Jerusalem: for Jer-obo´-am and his sons had cast them off from executing the priest’s office unto the Lord:
2Ch 11:15 And he ordained him priests for the high places, and for the devils, and for the calves which he had made.
2Ch 11:16 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 unto the Lord God of their fathers.
2Ch 11:17 So they strengthened the kingdom of Judah, and made Re-ho-bo´-am the son of Solomon strong, three years: for three years they walked in the way of David and Solomon.
2Ch 11:18 And Re-ho-bo´-am took him Ma´-ha-rai the daughter of Jer´-i-moth the son of David to wife, and Ab´-i-ha´il the daughter of E-li´-ab the son of Jesse;
2Ch 11:19 Which bare him children; Je´ush, and Sham-a-ri´-ah, and Za´-ham.
2Ch 11:20 And after her he took Ma´-achah the daughter of Ab´-sa-lom; which bare him A-bi´-jah, and At´-tai, and Zi´-za, and Shel´-o-mith.
2Ch 11:21 And Re-ho-bo´-am loved Ma´-achah the daughter of Ab´-sa-lom above all his wives and his concubines: (for he took eighteen wives, and threescore concubines; and begat twenty and eight sons, and threescore daughters.)
2Ch 11:22 And Re-ho-bo´-am made A-bi´jah the son of Ma´-a-chah the chief, to be ruler among his brethren: for he thought to make him king.
2Ch 11:23 And he dealt wisely, and dispersed of all his children throughout all the countries of Judah and Benjamin, unto every fenced city: and he gave them victual in abundance. And he desired many wives.