II Chronicles Chapter 11

II Chronicles Chapter 11
1 And when Rehoboam was come to
Jerusalem, he gathered of the house of
Judah and Benjamin nine score thousand
chosen men of war to fight against Israel,
and to bring the kingdom again to
Rehoboam.
2 But the word of the Lord came to
Shemaiah the man of God, saying, 3
Speak unto Rehoboam, the son of
Solomon king of Judah, and to all Israel
that are in Judah, and Benjamin, saying,
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. They obeyed therefore the
word of the Lord, and returned from
going against Jeroboam. 5 And
Rehoboam dwelt in Jerusalem, and built
strong cities in Judah. 6 He built also
Beth-lehem, and Etam, and Tekoa,
7 And Beth-zur, and Shochoh, and
Adullam,
8 And Gath, and Maroshah, and Ziph,
9 And Adoraim, and Lachish, and
Azekah,
10 And Zorah, and Ajalon, and Hebron,
which were in Judah and Benjamin,
strong cities.
11 And he repaired the strong holds and
put captains in them, and store of victual,
and oil and wine.
12 And in all cities he put shields and
spears, and made them exceeding strong:
so Judah and Benjamin were his.
13 And the priests and the Levites that
were in all Israel, resorted unto him out
of all their coasts.
14 For the Levites left their suburbs and
their possession, and came to Judah and
to Jerusalem: for Jeroboam and his sons
had cast them out from ministering in the
priest's office unto the Lord.
15 And he ordained him priests for the
high places, and for the devils and for
the calves which he had made.
16 And after the Levites there came to
Jerusalem of all the tribes of Israel, such
as set their hearts to seek the Lord God
of Israel, to offer unto the Lord God of
their fathers.
17 So they strengthened the kingdom of
Judah, and made Rehoboam the son of
Solomon mighty, three year long: for
three year they walked in the way of
David and Solomon.
18 And Rehoboam took him Mahalath
the daughter of Jerimoth the son of
David to wife, and Abihail the daughter
of Eliab the son of Jesse, 19 Which bear
him sons Jeush, and Shemariah, and
Zaham.
20 And after her he took Maacah the
daughter of Absalom which bear him
Abijah, and Attai, and Ziza, and
Shelomith.
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 begat eight and twenty
sons, and threescore daughters. 22 And
Rehoboam made Abijah the son of
Maacah the chief ruler among his
brethren: for he thought to make him
king.
23 And he taught him: and dispersed all
his sons throughout all the countries of
Judah and Benjamin unto every strong
city: and he gave them abundance of
victual, and desired many wives.