2 Chronicles 11:1-19
11:1 When Rehoboam arrived in Jerusalem, he summoned 180,000 skilled warriors from Judah and Benjamin to attack Israel and restore the kingdom to Rehoboam.
11:2 But the Lord told Shemaiah the prophet,
11:3 “Say this to King Rehoboam son of Solomon of Judah and to all the Israelites in Judah and Benjamin,
11:4 ‘The Lord says this: “Do not attack and make war with your brothers. Each of you go home, for I have caused this to happen.”’” They obeyed the Lord and called off the attack against Jeroboam.
Rehoboam’s Reign
11:5 Rehoboam lived in Jerusalem; he built up these fortified cities throughout Judah:
11:6 Bethlehem, Etam, Tekoa,
11:7 Beth Zur, Soco, Adullam,
11:8 Gath, Mareshah, Ziph,
11:9 Adoraim, Lachish, Azekah,
11:10 Zorah, Aijalon, and Hebron. These were the fortified cities in Judah and Benjamin.
11:11 He fortified these cities and placed officers in them, as well as storehouses of food, olive oil, and wine.
11:12 In each city there were shields and spears; he strongly fortified them. Judah and Benjamin belonged to him.
11:13 The priests and Levites who lived throughout Israel supported him, no matter where they resided.
11:14 The Levites even left their pasturelands and their property behind and came to Judah and Jerusalem, for Jeroboam and his sons prohibited them from serving as the Lord’s priests.
11:15 Jeroboam appointed his own priests to serve at the worship centers and to lead in the worship of the goat idols and calf idols he had made.
11:16 Those among all the Israelite tribes who were determined to worship the Lord God of Israel followed them to Jerusalem to sacrifice to the Lord God of their ancestors.
11:17 They supported the kingdom of Judah and were loyal to Rehoboam son of Solomon for three years; they followed the edicts of David and Solomon for three years.
11:18 Rehoboam married Mahalath the daughter of David’s son Jerimoth and of Abihail, the daughter of Jesse’s son Eliab.
11:19 She bore him sons named Jeush, Shemariah, and Zaham.