2 Chronicles 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.

1Rehoboam came to Jerusalem. He gathered 180,000 of his best soldiers. They came from the tribes of Judah and Benjamin. He wanted to fight Israel and rule them again.

2But the word of the LORD came to Shemaiah the man of God, saying,

2But God gave a message to Shemaiah. Shemaiah was a man who spoke for God.

3Speak unto Rehoboam the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and to all Israel in Judah and Benjamin, saying,

3God said, "Tell Rehoboam son of Solomon, the king of Judah. Tell all the people in Judah and Benjamin too."

4Thus 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.

4"Tell them this: Do not go up. Do not fight your own brothers. Every man go back home. This happened because I planned it." So they listened to God. They went home instead of fighting Jeroboam.

5And Rehoboam dwelt in Jerusalem, and built cities for defence in Judah.

5Rehoboam stayed in Jerusalem. He built up cities in Judah to keep his people safe.

6He built even Bethlehem, and Etam, and Tekoa,

6He built up Bethlehem, Etam, and Tekoa.

7And Bethzur, and Shoco, and Adullam,

7He also built up Bethzur, Shoco, and Adullam.

8And Gath, and Mareshah, and Ziph,

8He also built up Gath, Mareshah, and Ziph.

9And Adoraim, and Lachish, and Azekah,

9He also built up Adoraim, Lachish, and Azekah.

10And Zorah, and Aijalon, and Hebron, which are in Judah and in Benjamin fenced cities.

10He also built up Zorah, Aijalon, and Hebron. All these cities had strong walls. They were in Judah and Benjamin.

11And he fortified the strong holds, and put captains in them, and store of victual, and of oil and wine.

11He made the strong places even stronger. He put army leaders in them. He also stored food, olive oil, and wine there.

12And in every several city he put shields and spears, and made them exceeding strong, having Judah and Benjamin on his side.

12He put shields and spears in every city. He made the cities very strong. Judah and Benjamin were on his side.

13And the priests and the Levites that were in all Israel resorted to him out of all their coasts.

13The priests and Levites lived all over Israel. Priests led worship, and Levites helped them. They all came and joined Rehoboam.

14For 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:

14The Levites left their grasslands and their land behind. They went to Judah and Jerusalem. Jeroboam and his sons had pushed them out. They would not let them serve God as priests.

15And he ordained him priests for the high places, and for the devils, and for the calves which he had made.

15Jeroboam picked his own priests instead. They served at the worship places on the hills. They also served the goat idols and calf idols he had made.

NoteThe KJV says "devils" here. The Hebrew word means goat-shaped idols people worshiped, not devils as we use the word today.

16And 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.

16People from every tribe of Israel followed the Levites. These were people who really wanted to follow the God of Israel. They came to Jerusalem to bring gifts to God. He was the God their fathers had worshiped.

17So 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.

17These people made the kingdom of Judah strong. They made Rehoboam son of Solomon strong for three years. For those three years they lived like David and Solomon had.

18And Rehoboam took him Mahalath the daughter of Jerimoth the son of David to wife, and Abihail the daughter of Eliab the son of Jesse;

18Rehoboam married Mahalath. Her father was Jerimoth, a son of David. Her mother was Abihail, daughter of Eliab, who was Jesse's son.

19Which bare him children; Jeush, and Shamariah, and Zaham.

19She gave him sons named Jeush, Shamariah, and Zaham.

20And after her he took Maachah the daughter of Absalom; which bare him Abijah, and Attai, and Ziza, and Shelomith.

20Later he married Maachah, the daughter of Absalom. She gave him Abijah, Attai, Ziza, and Shelomith.

21And 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.)

21Rehoboam loved Maachah more than any of his other wives. He had eighteen wives and sixty other women who lived as his wives. He had twenty-eight sons and sixty daughters.

NoteA concubine was a woman who lived with a man as a wife. She did not have the full rights a wife had.

22And Rehoboam made Abijah the son of Maachah the chief, to be ruler among his brethren: for he thought to make him king.

22Rehoboam made Abijah, Maachah's son, the leader of his brothers. He planned to make Abijah the next king.

23And 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.

23Rehoboam acted wisely. He sent his sons to live all over Judah and Benjamin. He sent them to every city with strong walls. He gave them plenty of food. He also found many wives for them.