¶ And when Rehoboam¹ was come to Jerusalem, he gathered of the house of Judah and Benjamin an hundred² and fourscore thousand chosen men, which were warriors, to fight against Israel, that he might bring the kingdom again to Rehoboam.

But the word of the LORD came to Shemaiah³ the man⁴ of God, saying,

Speak unto Rehoboam the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and to all Israel⁵ in Judah and Benjamin, saying,

Thus saith the LORD, Ye shall not go up, nor fight against⁶ your brethren: return⁷ every man to his house: for this thing⁸ is done of me. And they obeyed⁹ the words of the LORD, and returned from going against Jeroboam.

And Rehoboam dwelt in Jerusalem, and built¹⁰ cities for defence in Judah.

He built even Bethlehem¹¹, and Etam¹², and Tekoa¹³,

And Bethzur¹⁴, and Shoco¹⁵, and Adullam,

And Gath¹⁷, and Mareshah¹⁸, and Ziph¹⁹,

And Adoraim, and Lachish²⁰, and Azekah,

¶ And Zorah²¹, and Aijalon, and Hebron, which are in Judah and in Benjamin fenced cities.

And he fortified²⁴ the strong holds, and put captains²⁵ in them, and store of victual, and of oil and wine.

And in every several city he put shields²⁶ and spears, and made them exceeding strong, having Judah²⁷ and Benjamin on his side.

¶ And the priests and the Levites that were in all Israel resorted to him²⁸ out of all their coasts.

For the Levites left their suburbs²⁹ and their possession³⁰, and came to Judah and Jerusalem: for Jeroboam³¹ and his sons had cast them off from executing the priest's office unto the LORD:

And he ordained him priests for the high places, and for the devils³², and for the calves³³ which he had made.

And after³⁴ them out of all the tribes of Israel such as set³⁵ their hearts to seek the LORD God of Israel came to Jerusalem, to sacrifice³⁶ unto the LORD God of their fathers.

So they strengthened³⁷ the kingdom of Judah, and made Rehoboam the son of Solomon strong, three years³⁸: for three years they walked in the way of David and Solomon.

And Rehoboam took him Mahalath the daughter³⁹ of Jerimoth the son of David to wife, and Abihail the daughter of Eliab⁴⁰ the son of Jesse;

Which bare him children; Jeush⁴², and Shamariah⁴³, and Zaham⁴⁴.

¶ And after her he took Maachah⁴⁵ the daughter of Absalom; which bare him Abijah, and Attai, and Ziza, and Shelomith.

And Rehoboam loved Maachah the daughter of Absalom above all his wives and his concubines: (for he took eighteen wives⁵⁰, and threescore concubines; and begat twenty and eight sons, and threescore daughters.)

And Rehoboam made Abijah⁵¹ the son of Maachah the chief, to be ruler among his brethren: for he thought to make him king.

And he dealt⁵² wisely, and dispersed⁵³ of all his children throughout all the countries of Judah and Benjamin, unto every fenced city⁵⁴: and he gave them victual in abundance. And he desired many wives⁵⁵.