Dual Panel1Now when Rehoboam<7346> had come<935> to Jerusalem<3389>, he assembled<6950> the house<1004> of Judah<3063> and Benjamin<1144>, 180,000 <3967><8084><505> chosen<977> men who were warriors<4421>, to fight<3898> against<5973> Israel<3478> to restore<7725> the kingdom<4467> to Rehoboam<7346>.
2But the word<1697> of the LORD<3068> came<1961> to Shemaiah<8098> the man<376> of God<430>, saying<559>,
3"Speak<559> to Rehoboam<7346> the son<1121> of Solomon<8010>, king<4428> of Judah<3063>, and to all<3605> Israel<3478> in Judah<3063> and Benjamin<1144>, saying<559>,
4'Thus<3541> says<559> the LORD<3068>, "You shall not go<5927> up or fight<3898> against<5973> your relatives<251>; return<7725> every<376> man<376> to his house<1004>, for this<2088> thing<1697> is from Me."'" So they listened<8085> to the words<1697> of the LORD<3068> and returned<7725> from going<1980> against<413> Jeroboam<3379>.
5Rehoboam<7346> lived<3427> in Jerusalem<3389> and built<1129> cities<5892> for defense<4692> in Judah<3063>.
6Thus he built<1129> Bethlehem<1035>, Etam<5862>, Tekoa<8620>,
7Beth-zur<1049>, Soco<7755>, Adullam<5725>,
8Gath<1661>, Mareshah<4762>, Ziph<2128>,
9Adoraim<115>, Lachish<3923>, Azekah<5825>,
10Zorah<6881>, Aijalon<357> and Hebron<2275>, which<834> are fortified<4694> cities<5892> in Judah<3063> and in Benjamin<1144>.
11He also strengthened<2388> the fortresses<4694> and put<5414> officers<5057> in them and stores<214> of food<3978>, oil<8081> and wine<3196>.
12He put shields<6793> and spears<7420> in every<3605> city<5892> and strengthened<2388> them greatly<7235><3966>. So he held<1961> Judah<3063> and Benjamin<1144>.
13Moreover, the priests<3548> and the Levites<3881> who<834> were in all<3605> Israel<3478> stood<3320> with him from all<3605> their districts<1366>.
14For the Levites<3881> left<5800> their pasture<4054> lands<4054> and their property<272> and came<1980> to Judah<3063> and Jerusalem<3389>, for Jeroboam<3379> and his sons<1121> had excluded<2186> them from serving<3547> as priests<3547> to the LORD<3068>.
15He set<5975> up priests<3548> of his own for the high<1116> places<1116>, for the satyrs<8163> and for the calves<5695> which<834> he had made<6213>.
16Those from all<3605> the tribes<7626> of Israel<3478> who set<5414> their hearts<3824> on seeking<1245> the LORD<3068> God<430> of Israel<3478> followed<935> them to Jerusalem<3389>, to sacrifice<2076> to the LORD<3068> God<430> of their fathers<1>.
17They strengthened<2388> the kingdom<4438> of Judah<3063> and supported<553> Rehoboam<7346> the son<1121> of Solomon<8010> for three<7969> years<8141>, for they walked<1980> in the way<1870> of David<1732> and Solomon<8010> for three<7969> years<8141>.
18Then Rehoboam<7346> took<3947> as a wife<802> Mahalath<4258> the daughter<1323> of Jerimoth<3406> the son<1121> of David<1732> and of Abihail<32> the daughter<1323> of Eliab<446> the son<1121> of Jesse<3448>,
19and she bore<3205> him sons<1121>: Jeush<3266>, Shemariah<8114> and Zaham<2093>.
20After<310> her he took<3947> Maacah<4601> the daughter<1323> of Absalom<53>, and she bore<3205> him Abijah<29>, Attai<6262>, Ziza<2124> and Shelomith<8019>.
21Rehoboam<7346> loved<157> Maacah<4601> the daughter<1323> of Absalom<53> more<4480> than<4480> all<3605> his other wives<802> and concubines<6370>. For he had taken<5375> eighteen<8083><6240> wives<802> and sixty<8346> concubines<6370> and fathered<3205> twenty-eight<6242><8083> sons<1121> and sixty<8346> daughters<1323>.
22Rehoboam<7346> appointed<5975> Abijah<29> the son<1121> of Maacah<4601> as head<7218> and leader<5057> among his brothers<251>, for he intended to make<4427> him king<4427>.
23He acted<995> wisely<995> and distributed<6555> some<4480> of his sons<1121> through<6555> all<3605> the territories<776> of Judah<3063> and Benjamin<1144> to all<3605> the fortified<4694> cities<5892>, and he gave<5414> them food<4202> in abundance<7230>. And he sought<7592> many<1995> wives<802> for them.