Shemaiah’s Prophecy
(1 Kings 12:20–24)

1When Rehoboam (a people has enlarged) arrived in Jerusalem (city of peace), he mobilized the house of Judah (praised) and Benjamin (son of the right hand)—180,000 chosen warriors—to fight against Israel (he wrestles with God) and restore the kingdom to Rehoboam. 2But the word of the LORD {YHWH} came to Shemaiah (heard by YHWH) the man of God {Elohim}: 3“Tell Rehoboam (a people has enlarged) son of Solomon (peace) king of Judah (praised) and all the Israelites (God prevails) in Judah and Benjamin (son of the right hand) 4that this is what the LORD {YHWH} says: ‘You⁺ are not to go up and fight against your⁺ brothers. Each of you⁺ must return home, for this is My doing.’”

So they listened to the words of the LORD and turned back from going against Jeroboam (the people will contend).

Rehoboam Fortifies Judah

5Rehoboam (a people has enlarged) lived in Jerusalem (city of peace), and he built up cities for defense in Judah (praised). 6He built up Bethlehem (house of bread), Etam (lair of wild beasts), Tekoa (a stockade), 7Beth-zur (house of the rock), Soco (bushy), Adullam (justice of the people), 8Gath (winepress), Mareshah (crest of a hill), Ziph (battlement), 9Adoraim (double glory), Lachish (invincible), Azekah (dug over), 10Zorah (hornet), Aijalon (field of deer), and Hebron (association), the fortified cities in Judah (praised) and Benjamin (son of the right hand). 11He strengthened their fortifications and put officers in them, with supplies of food, oil, and wine. 12He also put shields and spears in all the cities and strengthened them greatly. So Judah (praised) and Benjamin (son of the right hand) belonged to him.

Jeroboam Forsakes the Priests and Levites

13Moreover, the priests and Levites from all their districts throughout Israel (he wrestles with God) stood with Rehoboam. 14For the Levites left their pasturelands and their possessions and went to Judah (praised) and Jerusalem (city of peace), because Jeroboam (the people will contend) and his sons had rejected them as priests of the LORD {YHWH}. 15And Jeroboam appointed his own priests for the high places and for the goat demons and calf idols he had made.

16Those from every tribe of Israel (he wrestles with God) who had set their hearts to seek the LORD {YHWH} their God {Elohe} followed the Levites to Jerusalem (city of peace) to sacrifice to the LORD, the God of their fathers. 17So they strengthened the kingdom of Judah (praised) and supported Rehoboam (a people has enlarged) son of Solomon (peace) for three years, because they walked for three years in the way of David (beloved) and Solomon.

Rehoboam’s Family

18And Rehoboam (a people has enlarged) married Mahalath (weak), who was the daughter of David’s (beloved) son Jerimoth (He is Most High) and of Abihail (my father is might), the daughter of Jesse’s (I possess) son Eliab (God is father). 19She bore sons to him: Jeush (He hurries to aid), Shemariah (kept by YHWH), and Zaham (loathing).

20After her, he married Maacah (oppression) daughter of Absalom (my father is peace), and she bore to him Abijah (YHWH is my father), Attai (opportune), Ziza (shining), and Shelomith (peaceful). 21Rehoboam (a people has enlarged) loved Maacah (oppression) daughter of Absalom (my father is peace) more than all his wives and concubines. In all, he had eighteen wives and sixty concubines, and he was the father of twenty-eight sons and sixty daughters.

22Rehoboam (a people has enlarged) appointed Abijah (YHWH is my father) son of Maacah (oppression) as chief prince among his brothers, intending to make him king. 23Rehoboam also acted wisely by dispersing some of his sons throughout the districts of Judah (praised) and Benjamin (son of the right hand), and to all the fortified cities. He gave them abundant provisions and sought many wives for them.