1And when Rehoboam was come to Jerusalem, he gathered of the house of Judah and Benjamin a hundred and fourscore thousand chosen men, which were warriors, to fight against Israel, that he might bring the kingdom again to Rehoboam.⇆ compare2But the word of the LORD came to Shemaiah the man of God, saying,⇆ compare3Speak unto Rehoboam the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and to all Israel in Judah and Benjamin, saying,⇆ compare4Thus 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 Jeroboam.⇆ compare5And Rehoboam dwelt in Jerusalem, and built cities for defense in Judah.⇆ compare6He built even Bethlehem, and Etam, and Tekoa,⇆ compare7And Beth-zur, and Shoco, and Adullam,⇆ compare8And Gath, and Mareshah, and Ziph,⇆ compare9And Adoraim, and Lachish, and Azekah,⇆ compare10And Zorah, and Aijalon, and Hebron, which are in Judah and in Benjamin fenced cities.⇆ compare11And he fortified the strongholds, and put captains in them, and store of victual, and of oil and wine.⇆ compare12And in every several city he put shields and spears, and made them exceeding strong, having Judah and Benjamin on his side.⇆ compare13And the priests and the Levites that were in all Israel resorted to him out of all their coasts.⇆ compare14For the Levites left their suburbs and their possession, and came to Judah and Jerusalem: for Jeroboam and his sons had cast them off from executing the priest's office unto the LORD:⇆ compare15And he ordained him priests for the high places, and for the devils, and for the calves which he had made.⇆ compare16And 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.⇆ compare17So they strengthened the kingdom of Judah, and made Rehoboam the son of Solomon strong, three years: for three years they walked in the way of David and Solomon.⇆ compare18And Rehoboam took him Mahalath the daughter of Jerimoth the son of David to wife, and Abihail the daughter of Eliab the son of Jesse;⇆ compare19Which bore him children; Jeush, and Shamariah, and Zaham.⇆ compare20And after her he took Maachah the daughter of Absalom; which bore him Abijah, and Attai, and Ziza, and Shelomith.⇆ compare21And Rehoboam loved Maachah 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.)⇆ compare22And Rehoboam made Abijah the son of Maachah the chief, to be ruler among his brethren: for he thought to make him king.⇆ compare23And 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.⇆ compare