Divrei Hayamim II 11
Divrei Hayamim II (Book of 2 Chronicles), Chapter 11
'"`UNIQ--named-00000000-QINU`"'1 And when Rehoboam was come to Jerusalem, he assembled the house of Judah and Benjamin, a hundred and fourscore thousand chosen men, that were warriors, to fight against Israel, to bring the kingdom back to Rehoboam.
'"`UNIQ--named-00000001-QINU`"'2 But the word of HaShem came to Shemaiah the man of G-d, saying:
'"`UNIQ--named-00000002-QINU`"'3 'Speak unto Rehoboam the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and to all Israel in Judah and Benjamin, saying:
'"`UNIQ--named-00000003-QINU`"'4 Thus saith HaShem: Ye shall not go up, nor fight against your brethren; return every man to his house, for this thing is of Me.' So they hearkened unto the words of HaShem, and returned from going against Jeroboam.
'"`UNIQ--named-00000004-QINU`"'5 And Rehoboam dwelt in Jerusalem, and built cities for defence in Judah.
'"`UNIQ--named-00000005-QINU`"'6 He built even Beth-lehem, and Etam, and Tekoa,
'"`UNIQ--named-00000006-QINU`"'7 and Beth-zur, and Soco, and Adullam,
'"`UNIQ--named-00000007-QINU`"'8 and Gath, and Mareshah, and Ziph,
'"`UNIQ--named-00000008-QINU`"'9 and Adoraim, and Lachish, and Azekah,
'"`UNIQ--named-00000009-QINU`"'10 and Zorah, and Aijalon, and Hebron, which are in Judah and in Benjamin, fortified cities.
'"`UNIQ--named-0000000A-QINU`"'11 And he fortified the strongholds, and put captains in them, and store of victual, and oil and wine.
'"`UNIQ--named-0000000B-QINU`"'12 And in every city he put shields and spears, and made them exceeding strong. And Judah and Benjamin adhered to him.
'"`UNIQ--named-0000000C-QINU`"'13 And the priests and the Levites that were in all Israel presented themselves to him out of all their border.
'"`UNIQ--named-0000000D-QINU`"'14 For the Levites left their open land and their possession, and came to Judah and Jerusalem; for Jeroboam and his sons cast them off, that they should not execute the priest's office unto HaShem;
'"`UNIQ--named-0000000E-QINU`"'15 and he appointed him priests for the high places, and for the satyrs, and for the calves which he had made.
'"`UNIQ--named-0000000F-QINU`"'16 And after them, out of all the tribes of Israel, such as set their hearts to seek HaShem, the G-d of Israel, came to Jerusalem to sacrifice unto HaShem, the G-d of their fathers.
'"`UNIQ--named-00000010-QINU`"'17 So they strengthened the kingdom of Judah, and made Rehoboam the son of Solomon strong, three years; for they walked three years in the way of David and Solomon.
'"`UNIQ--named-00000011-QINU`"'18 And Rehoboam took him a wife, Mahalath the daughter of Jerimoth the son of David, and of Abihail the daughter of Eliab the son of Jesse;
'"`UNIQ--named-00000012-QINU`"'19 and she bore him sons: Jeush, and Shemariah, and Zaham.
'"`UNIQ--named-00000013-QINU`"'20 And after her he took Maacah the daughter of Absalom; and she bore him Abijah, and Attai, and Ziza, and Shelomith.
'"`UNIQ--named-00000014-QINU`"'21 And Rehoboam loved Maacah the daughter of Absalom above all his wives and his concubines--for he took eighteen wives, and threescore concubines, and begot twenty and eight sons and threescore daughters.
'"`UNIQ--named-00000015-QINU`"'22 And Rehoboam appointed Abijah the son of Maacah to be chief, even the prince among his brethren; for he was minded to make him king.
'"`UNIQ--named-00000016-QINU`"'23 And he dealt wisely, and dispersed of all his sons throughout all the lands of Judah and Benjamin, unto every fortified city; and he gave them victual in abundance. And he sought for them many wives.