The Second Book of the Chronicles

⭑ Geneva Bible :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

- Chapter 11 -

(1 Kings 12:20–24)

And when Rehoboam was come to Ierusalem, he gathered of the house of Iudah and Beniamin nine score thousande chosen men of warre to fight against Israel, and to bring the kingdome againe to Rehoboam.

But the worde of the Lord came to Shemaiah the man of God, saying,

Speake vnto Rehoboam, the sonne of Salomon King of Iudah, and to all Israel that are in Iudah, and Beniamin, saying,

Thus sayth the Lord, Ye shall not goe vp, nor fight against your brethren: returne euery man to his house: for this thing is done of me. They obeyed therfore the word of the Lord, and returned from going against Ieroboam.

Rehoboam Fortifies Judah

And Rehoboam dwelt in Ierusalem, and buylt strong cities in Iudah.

Hee buylt also Beth-lehem, and Etam, and Tekoa,

And Beth-zur, and Shoco, and Adullam,

And Gath, and Maresha, and Ziph,

And Adoraim, and Lachish, and Azekah,

And Zorah, and Aialon, and Hebron, which were in Iudah and Beniamin, strong cities.

And he repaired the strong holdes and put captaines in them, and store of vitaile, and oyle and wine.

And in all cities he put shieldes and speares, and made them exceeding strong: so Iudah and Beniamin were his.

Jeroboam Forsakes the Priests and Levites

And the Priests and the Leuites that were in all Israel, resorted vnto him out of all their coastes.

For the Leuites left their suburbes and their possession, and came to Iudah and to Ierusalem: for Ieroboam and his sonnes had cast them out from ministring in the Priestes office vnto the Lord.

And he ordeyned him Priests for the hie places, and for the deuils and for the calues which he had made.

And after the Leuites there came to Ierusalem of all the tribes of Israel, such as set their heartes to seeke the Lord God of Israel, to offer vnto the Lord God of their fathers.

So they strengthened the kingdome of Iudah, and made Rehoboam the sonne of Salomon mightie, three yeere long: for three yeere they walked in in the way of Dauid and Salomon.

Rehoboam’s Family

And Rehoboam tooke him Mahalath ye daughter of Ierimoth the sonne of Dauid to wife, and Abihail the daughter of Eliab the sonne of Ishai,

Which bare him sonnes Ieush, and Shemariah, and Zaham.

And after her he tooke Maakah ye daughter of Absalom which bare him Abiiah, and Atthai, and Ziza, and Shelomith.

And Rehoboam loued Maakah ye daughter of Absalom aboue all his wiues and his concubines: for he tooke eighteene wiues, and three score concubines, and begate eyght and twentie sonnes, and three score daughters.

And Rehoboam made Abiiah the sonne of Maakah the chiefe ruler among his brethren: for he thought to make him King.

And he taught him: and dispersed all his sonnes throughout all the countreis of Iudah and Beniamin vnto euery strong citie: and hee gaue them aboundance of vitaile, and desired many wiues.

(1 Kings 12:20–24)

When Rehoboam had come to Jerusalem, he assembled the house of Judah and Benjamin, one hundred eighty thousand chosen men who were warriors, to fight against Israel, to bring the kingdom again to Rehoboam.

But the LORD’s word came to Shemaiah the man of God, saying,

“Speak to Rehoboam the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and to all Israel in Judah and Benjamin, saying,

‘The LORD says, “You shall not go up, nor fight against your brothers! Every man return to his house; for this thing is of me.”’” So they listened to the LORD’s words, and returned from going against Jeroboam.

Rehoboam Fortifies Judah

Rehoboam lived in Jerusalem, and built cities for defense in Judah.

He built Bethlehem, Etam, Tekoa,

Beth Zur, Soco, Adullam,

Gath, Mareshah, Ziph,

Adoraim, Lachish, Azekah,

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

He fortified the strongholds and put captains in them with stores of food, oil and wine.

He put shields and spears in every city, and made them exceedingly strong. Judah and Benjamin belonged to him.

Jeroboam Forsakes the Priests and Levites

The priests and the Levites who were in all Israel stood with him out of all their territory.

For the Levites left their pasture lands and their possessions, and came to Judah and Jerusalem; for Jeroboam and his sons cast them off, that they should not execute the priest’s office to the LORD.

He himself appointed priests for the high places, for the male goat and calf idols which he had made.

After them, out of all the tribes of Israel, those who set their hearts to seek the LORD, the God of Israel, came to Jerusalem to sacrifice to the LORD, the God of their fathers.

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

Rehoboam’s Family

Rehoboam took a wife for himself, Mahalath the daughter of Jerimoth the son of David and of Abihail the daughter of Eliab the son of Jesse.

She bore him sons: Jeush, Shemariah, and Zaham.

After her, he took Maacah the granddaughter of Absalom; and she bore him Abijah, Attai, Ziza, and Shelomith.

Rehoboam loved Maacah the granddaughter of Absalom above all his wives and his concubines; for he took eighteen wives and sixty concubines, and became the father of twenty-eight sons and sixty daughters.

Rehoboam appointed Abijah the son of Maacah to be chief, the prince among his brothers, for he intended to make him king.

He dealt wisely, and dispersed some of his sons throughout all the lands of Judah and Benjamin, to every fortified city. He gave them food in abundance; and he sought many wives for them.