1	And when Rehoboam was come# to Jerusalem, he gathered# of the house of Judah and Benjamin an hundred 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 Shemaiah the man of God, saying# ,
			3	Speak# unto Rehoboam the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and to all Israel in Judah and Benjamin, saying# ,
			4	Thus saith# the LORD, Ye shall not go up# , nor fight# against your brethren: return# every man to his house: for this thing is done# of me. And they obeyed# the words of the LORD, and returned# from going# against Jeroboam.
			5	And Rehoboam dwelt# in Jerusalem, and built# cities for defence in Judah.
			6	He built# even Bethlehem, and Etam, and Tekoa,
			7	And Bethzur, and Shoco, and Adullam,
			8	And Gath, and Mareshah, and Ziph,
			9	And Adoraim, and Lachish, and Azekah,
			10	And Zorah, and Aijalon, and Hebron, which are in Judah and in Benjamin fenced cities.
			11	And he fortified# the strong holds, and put# captains in them, and store of victual, and of oil and wine.
			12	And in every several city he put shields and spears, and made them exceeding# # strong# , having Judah and Benjamin on his side.
			13	And the priests and the Levites that were in all Israel resorted# to him out of all their coasts. [resorted...: Heb. presented themselves to him]
			14	For the Levites left# their suburbs and their possession, and came# to Judah and Jerusalem: for Jeroboam 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 devils, and for the calves which he had made# .
			16	And after them out of all the tribes of Israel such as set# their hearts to seek# the LORD God of Israel came# to Jerusalem, to sacrifice# unto the LORD God of their fathers.
			17	So they strengthened# the kingdom of Judah, and made Rehoboam the son of Solomon strong# , three years: for three years they walked# in the way of David and Solomon.
			18	And Rehoboam took# him Mahalath the daughter# # of Jerimoth the son of David to wife, and Abihail the daughter of Eliab the son of Jesse;
			19	Which bare# him children; Jeush, and Shamariah, and Zaham.
			20	And after her he took# Maachah the daughter of Absalom; which bare# him Abijah, and Attai, and Ziza, and Shelomith. [Maachah: she is also called Michaiah the daughter of Uriel]
			21	And Rehoboam loved# Maachah the daughter of Absalom above all his wives and his concubines: (for he took# eighteen# wives, and threescore concubines; and begat# twenty and eight sons, and threescore daughters.)
			22	And Rehoboam made# Abijah the son of Maachah the chief, to be ruler among his brethren: for he thought to make him king# .
			23	And he dealt wisely# , and dispersed# of all his children throughout all the countries of Judah and Benjamin, unto every fenced city: and he gave# them victual in abundance. And he desired# many wives. [many wives: Heb. a multitude of wives]