2 Chronicles, Chapter 11:

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Verses from 2 Chronicles, Chapter 11 of the book of the Bible.

1. When Rehoboam arrived in Jerusalem, he summoned one hundred and eighty thousand fighting men, from the tribes of Judah and Benjamin, to fight against Israel and regain the kingdom for Rehoboam.
2. Meanwhile, the word of the Lord came to Shemaiah, a man of God:
3. “Say to Rehoboam son of Solomon, king of Judah, and to all the Israelites of Judah and Benjamin:
4. Thus says the Lord: Do not go to war against your brothers. Go home, all of you, for I caused this myself.” And they obeyed the word of the Lord and gave up marching against Jeroboam.

Rehoboam fortifies Judah

5. Rehoboam remained in Jerusalem and rebuilt some cities for the defense of Judah. These were the cities:
6. Bethlehem, Ethan, Tekoa,
7. Beth-zur, Socoh, Adullam,
8. Gate, Maressa, Zife,
9. Adoraim, Lachish, Azekah,
10. Zorah, Aijalon and Hebron. These cities were fortified in Judah and Benjamin.
11. He strengthened the defenses of these cities and placed commanders in them, as well as supplies of food, oil and wine.
12. He stored large shields and spears in all the cities, making them very strong. Thus, Judah and Benjamin remained under his rule.
13. The priests and Levites from all parts of Israel supported him.
14. The Levites even abandoned their property and possessions and went to Judah and Jerusalem, because Jeroboam and his sons had rejected them as priests of the Lord.
15. They appointed their own priests for the idolatrous altars and for the idols that they made in the shape of goats and calves.
16. Of all the tribes of Israel, those who were sincere in their hearts to seek the Lord, the God of Israel, followed the Levites to Jerusalem to offer sacrifices to the Lord, the God of their ancestors.
17. They strengthened the kingdom of Judah and supported Rehoboam son of Solomon for three years, following the ways of David and Solomon during that time.

18. Rehoboam married Mahalath, daughter of Jerimoth and granddaughter of David. His mother was Abiail, daughter of Eliab and granddaughter of Jesse.
19. She bore him three sons: Jehus, Shemarias and Zaam.
20. Then he married Maacah, daughter of Absalom, and she bore him his sons Abijah, Atai, Ziza and Shelomith.
21. Rehoboam loved Maacah, daughter of Absalom, more than any of his other wives and concubines. He had eighteen wives and sixty concubines, and had twenty-eight sons and sixty daughters.
22. Rehoboam appointed Abijah, the son of Maacah, as leader among his brothers, with the purpose of making him king.
23. He acted wisely in scattering his sons throughout the districts of Judah and Benjamin and the fortified cities. He provided them with abundant provisions and found many wives for them.