2 Chronicles, Chapter 11

1. And when Rehoboam had come to Jerusalem, he gathered from the house of Judah and Benjamin a hundred and eighty thousand chosen men, which were warriors, to fight against Israel, that he might bring the kingdom back to Rehoboam.    2. But the word of the LORD came to Shemaiah the man of God, saying,    3. Speak to Rehoboam the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and to all Israel in Judah and Benjamin, saying,    4. Thus says the LORD, You shall not go up, nor fight against your people: return every man to his house: for this thing is done by me. And they obeyed the words of the LORD, and returned from going against Jeroboam.    5. And Rehoboam dwelt in Jerusalem, and built cities for defense in Judah.    6. He built even Bethlehem, and Etam, and Tekoa,    7. And Beth-zur, and Shoco, and Adullam,    8. And Gath, and Mareshah, and Ziph,    9. And Adoraim, and Lachish, and Azekah,    10. And Zorah, and Aijalon, and Hebron, which are fortified cities in Judah and in Benjamin.    11. And he fortified the strongholds, and put captains in them, and supplies of food, and of oil and wine.    12. And in each city he put shields and spears, and made them exceedingly strong, having Judah and Benjamin on his side.    13. And the priests and the Levites that were in all Israel came to him out of all their territory.    14. For the Levites left their lands and their possession, and came to Judah and Jerusalem: for Jeroboam and his sons had discharged them from performing the priest's service unto the LORD:    15. And he ordained for himself priests for the high places, and for the devils, and for the calves which he had made.    16. And after the Levites, out of all the tribes of Israel those who set their hearts to seek the LORD God of Israel came to Jerusalem, to sacrifice unto the LORD God of their fathers.    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.    18. And Rehoboam took Mahalath the daughter of Jerimoth the son of David as wife, and Abihail the daughter of Eliab the son of Jesse;    19. Who bore him children; Jeush, and Shamariah, and Zaham.    20. And after her he took Maachah the daughter of Absalom; who bore him Abijah, and Attai, and Ziza, and Shelomith.    21. And Rehoboam loved Maachah the daughter of Absalom more than all his wives and his concubines: (for he took eighteen wives, and sixty concubines; and begot twenty eight sons, and sixty daughters.)    22. And Rehoboam made Abijah the son of Maachah the chief, to be ruler among his people: for he thought to make him king.    23. And he dealt wisely, and dispersed all his children throughout all the lands of Judah and Benjamin, to every fortified city: and he gave them supplies of food in abundance. And he desired many wives.