14_2CH_11_01 And when Rehoboam was come to Jerusalem, he gathered of the house of Judah and Benjamin an hundred and fourscore thousand chosen [men], which were warriors, to fight against Israel, that he might bring the kingdom again to Rehoboam.
14_2CH_11_02 But the word of the LORD came to Shemaiah the man of God, saying,
14_2CH_11_03 Speak unto Rehoboam the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and to all Israel in Judah and Benjamin, saying,
14_2CH_11_04 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. And they obeyed the words of the LORD, and returned from going against Jeroboam.
14_2CH_11_05 And Rehoboam dwelt in Jerusalem, and built cities for defence in Judah.
14_2CH_11_06 He built even Bethlehem, and Etam, and Tekoa,
14_2CH_11_07 And Bethzur, and Shoco, and Adullam,
14_2CH_11_08 And Gath, and Mareshah, and Ziph,
14_2CH_11_09 And Adoraim, and Lachish, and Azekah,
14_2CH_11_10 And Zorah, and Aijalon, and Hebron, which [are] in Judah and in Benjamin fenced cities.
14_2CH_11_11 And he fortified the strong holds, and put captains in them, and store of victual, and of oil and wine.
14_2CH_11_12 And in every several city [he put] shields and spears, and made them exceeding strong, having Judah and Benjamin on his side.
14_2CH_11_13 And the priests and the Levites that [were] in all Israel resorted to him out of all their coasts.
14_2CH_11_14 For 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:
14_2CH_11_15 And he ordained him priests for the high places, and for the devils, and for the calves which he had made.
14_2CH_11_16 And 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.
14_2CH_11_17 So 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.
14_2CH_11_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;
14_2CH_11_19 Which bare him children; Jeush, and Shemariah, and Zaham.
14_2CH_11_20 And after her he took Maachah the daughter of Absalom; which bare him Abijah, and Attai, and Ziza, and Shelomith.
14_2CH_11_21 And Rehoboam loved Maachah the daughter of Absalom above all his wives and his concubines: [for he took eighteen wives, and threescore concubines; and begat twenty and eight sons, and threescore daughters.]
14_2CH_11_22 And Rehoboam made Abijah the son of Maachah the chief, [to be] ruler among his brethren: for [he thought] to make him king.
14_2CH_11_23 And 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.