(KJV) 2 Chronicles 11¹

<< 2 Chronicles 10

2 Chronicles 12 >>

⥃Shemaiah’s Prophecy ^{[ 1 Kings 12:20–24 ]}

[1] And when Rehoboam² was come to Jerusalem, he gathered of the house of Judah and Benjamin an hundred³ 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 Shemaiah⁴ the man⁵ of God, saying, [3] Speak unto Rehoboam the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and to all Israel⁶ in Judah and Benjamin, saying, [4] Thus saith the Lord, Ye shall not go up, nor fight against⁷ your brethren: return⁸ every man to his house: for this thing⁹ is done of me. And they obeyed¹⁰ the words of the Lord, and returned from going against Jeroboam.

⥃Rehoboam Fortifies Judah

[5] [¶]And Rehoboam dwelt in Jerusalem, and built¹¹ cities for defence in Judah.¹² [6] He built even Beth–lehem¹³, and Etam¹⁴, and Tekoa¹⁵, [7] And Beth–zur¹⁶, and Shoco¹⁷, and Adullam¹⁸, [8] And Gath¹⁹, and Mareshah²⁰, and Ziph²¹, [9] And Adoraim, and Lachish²², and Azekah, [10] And Zorah²³, and Aijalon, and Hebron²⁴, which [are] in Judah and in Benjamin fenced cities. [11] And he fortified²⁵ the strong holds, and put captains²⁶ in them, and store of victual, and of oil and wine. [12] And in every several city [he put] shields²⁷ and spears, and made them exceeding strong, having Judah²⁸ and Benjamin on his side.

⥃Jeroboam Forsakes the Priests and Levites

[13] And the priests and the Levites that [were] in all Israel resorted to him²⁹ out of all their coasts.³⁰ [14] For the Levites left their suburbs³¹ and their possession³², and came to Judah and Jerusalem: for Jeroboam³³ 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 devils³⁴, and for the calves³⁵ which he had made. [16] And after³⁶ them out of all the tribes of Israel such as set³⁷ their hearts to seek the Lord God of Israel came to Jerusalem, to sacrifice³⁸ unto the Lord God of their fathers. [17] So they strengthened³⁹ the kingdom of Judah, and made Rehoboam the son of Solomon strong, three years⁴⁰: for three years they walked in the way of David and Solomon.⁴¹

⥃Rehoboam’s Family

[18] [¶]And Rehoboam took him Mahalath the daughter⁴² of Jerimoth the son of David to wife, [and] Abihail the daughter of Eliab⁴³ the son of Jesse;⁴⁴ [19] Which bare him children; Jeush, and Shamariah, and Zaham. [20] And after her he took Maachah⁴⁵ the daughter of Absalom⁴⁶; which bare him Abijah⁴⁷, 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 wives⁴⁸, and threescore concubines; and begat twenty and eight sons, and threescore daughters.) [22] And Rehoboam made Abijah⁴⁹ the son of Maachah the chief, [to be] ruler among his brethren: for [he thought] to make him king. [23] And he dealt⁵⁰ wisely, and dispersed⁵¹ of all his children throughout all the countries of Judah and Benjamin, unto every fenced city⁵²: and he gave them victual in abundance. And he desired many wives⁵³.

<< 2 Chronicles 10

2 Chronicles 12 >>