Rehoboam prepares to fight the northern tribes but obeys a prophet and goes home. He fortifies cities in Judah, and the priests and Levites from the north move to Judah, since Jeroboam has rejected them.
1 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 .
2 But the word of the LORD came to Shemaiah the man of God , saying ,
3 Speak unto Rehoboam the son of Solomon , king of Judah , and to all Israel in Judah and Benjamin , saying ,
4 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 .
5 And Rehoboam dwelt in Jerusalem , and built cities for defence in Judah .
6 He built even Bethlehem , and Etam , and Tekoa ,
7 And Bethzur , 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 in Judah and in Benjamin fenced cities .
11 And he fortified the strong holds , and put captains in them, and store of victual , and of oil and wine .
12 And in every several city he put shields and spears , and made them exceeding strong , having Judah and Benjamin on his side.
13 And the priests and the Levites that were in all Israel resorted to him out of all their coasts .
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 :
15 And he ordained him priests for the high places , and for the devils , and for the calves which he had made .
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 .
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 him Mahalath the daughter of Jerimoth the son of David to wife , and Abihail the daughter of Eliab the son of Jesse ;
19 Which bare him children ; Jeush , and Shamariah , and Zaham .
20 And after her he took Maachah the daughter of Absalom ; which bare him Abijah , and Attai , and Ziza , and Shelomith .
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 .)
22 And Rehoboam made Abijah the son of Maachah the chief , to be ruler among his brethren : for he thought to make him king .
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 .