JPS - II Chronicles - 11

11:1  And when Rehoboam was come to Jerusalem, he assembled the house of Judah and Benjamin, a hundred and fourscore thousand chosen men, that were warriors, to fight against Israel, to bring the kingdom back to Rehoboam.

11:2  But the word of HaShem came to Shemaiah the man of G-d, saying:

11:3  'Speak unto Rehoboam the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and to all Israel in Judah and Benjamin, saying:

11:4  Thus saith HaShem: Ye shall not go up, nor fight against your brethren; return every man to his house, for this thing is of Me.' So they hearkened unto the words of HaShem, and returned from going against Jeroboam.

11:5  And Rehoboam dwelt in Jerusalem, and built cities for defence in Judah.

11:6  He built even Beth-lehem, and Etam, and Tekoa,

11:7  and Beth-zur, and Soco, and Adullam,

11:8  and Gath, and Mareshah, and Ziph,

11:9  and Adoraim, and Lachish, and Azekah,

11:10  and Zorah, and Aijalon, and Hebron, which are in Judah and in Benjamin, fortified cities.

11:11  And he fortified the strongholds, and put captains in them, and store of victual, and oil and wine.

11:12  And in every city he put shields and spears, and made them exceeding strong. And Judah and Benjamin adhered to him.

11:13  And the priests and the Levites that were in all Israel presented themselves to him out of all their border.

11:14  For the Levites left their open land and their possession, and came to Judah and Jerusalem; for Jeroboam and his sons cast them off, that they should not execute the priest's office unto HaShem;

11:15  and he appointed him priests for the high places, and for the satyrs, and for the calves which he had made.

11:16  And after them, out of all the tribes of Israel, such as set their hearts to seek HaShem, the G-d of Israel, came to Jerusalem to sacrifice unto HaShem, the G-d of their fathers.

11:17  So they strengthened the kingdom of Judah, and made Rehoboam the son of Solomon strong, three years; for they walked three years in the way of David and Solomon.

11:18  And Rehoboam took him a wife, Mahalath the daughter of Jerimoth the son of David, and of Abihail the daughter of Eliab the son of Jesse;

11:19  and she bore him sons: Jeush, and Shemariah, and Zaham.

11:20  And after her he took Maacah the daughter of Absalom; and she bore him Abijah, and Attai, and Ziza, and Shelomith.

11:21  And Rehoboam loved Maacah the daughter of Absalom above all his wives and his concubines--for he took eighteen wives, and threescore concubines, and begot twenty and eight sons and threescore daughters.

11:22  And Rehoboam appointed Abijah the son of Maacah to be chief, even the prince among his brethren; for he was minded to make him king.

11:23  And he dealt wisely, and dispersed of all his sons throughout all the lands of Judah and Benjamin, unto every fortified city; and he gave them victual in abundance. And he sought for them many wives.