Chapter 11 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.
But the word of the Lord came to Shimeiah the man of God, saying, Speak unto
Rehoboam, the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and to all Israel in Judah and
Benjamin, saying, 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.
And Rehoboam dwelt in Jerusalem and built cities for defense in Judah.
He built even Bethlehem, and Edom, and Tekoa, and Bethsaida, and Shokoh,
and Adullam, and Gath, and Moreshah, and Ziph, and Adoraim, and Lachish,
and Ezekiah, and Zorah, and Ajilon, and Hebron, which are in Judah and in
Benjamin fenced cities.
And he fortified the strongholds, and put captains in them, and store of
vittle, and of oil, and wine.
And in every several city he put shields and spears, and made them exceeding
strong, having Judah and Benjamin on his side.
And the priests and the Levites that were in all Israel resorted to him out of all
their coasts.
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 priests' office
unto the Lord.
And he ordained him priests for the high places, and for the devils, and for the
calves which he had made.
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.
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.
And Rehoboam took him Maalath, the daughter of Jeremoth, the son of
David, to wife, and Abihel, the daughter of Eliab, the son of Jesse, which bear him
children, Chiosh, and Shammariah, and Zaham.
And after her he took Meachah, the daughter of Absalom, which bear him
Abijah, and Attai, and Zizah, and Shalomith.
And Rehoboam loved Meachah, 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.
And Rehoboam made Abijah the son of Meachah the chief, to be ruler among his
brethren.
For he thought to make him king.
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 vital in abundance.
And he desired many wives.