| Holman Christian Standard Bible | New International Version |
| 1When Rehoboam arrived in Jerusalem, he mobilized the house of Judah and Benjamin--180,000 choice warriors--to fight against Israel to restore the reign to Rehoboam. | 1When Rehoboam arrived in Jerusalem, he mustered Judah and Benjamin--a hundred and eighty thousand able young men--to go to war against Israel and to regain the kingdom for Rehoboam. |
| 2But the word of the LORD came to Shemaiah, the man of God: | 2But this word of the LORD came to Shemaiah the man of God: |
| 3"Say to Rehoboam son of Solomon, king of Judah, to all Israel in Judah and Benjamin, and to the rest of the people: | 3"Say to Rehoboam son of Solomon king of Judah and to all Israel in Judah and Benjamin, |
| 4 'This is what the LORD says: You are not to march up and fight against your brothers. Each of you must return home, for this incident has come from Me.'" So they listened to what the LORD said and turned back from going against Jeroboam. | 4This is what the LORD says: Do not go up to fight against your fellow Israelites. Go home, every one of you, for this is my doing.'" So they obeyed the words of the LORD and turned back from marching against Jeroboam. |
| 5Rehoboam stayed in Jerusalem, and he fortified cities in Judah. | 5Rehoboam lived in Jerusalem and built up towns for defense in Judah: |
| 6He built up Bethlehem, Etam, Tekoa, | 6Bethlehem, Etam, Tekoa, |
| 7Beth-zur, Soco, Adullam, | 7Beth Zur, Soko, Adullam, |
| 8Gath, Mareshah, Ziph, | 8Gath, Mareshah, Ziph, |
| 9Adoraim, Lachish, Azekah, | 9Adoraim, Lachish, Azekah, |
| 10Zorah, Aijalon, and Hebron, which are fortified cities in Judah and in Benjamin. | 10Zorah, Aijalon and Hebron. These were fortified cities in Judah and Benjamin. |
| 11He strengthened their fortifications and put leaders in them with supplies of food, oil, and wine. | 11He strengthened their defenses and put commanders in them, with supplies of food, olive oil and wine. |
| 12He also put large shields and spears in each and every city to make them very strong. So Judah and Benjamin were his. | 12He put shields and spears in all the cities, and made them very strong. So Judah and Benjamin were his. |
| 13The priests and Levites from all their regions throughout Israel took their stand with Rehoboam, | 13The priests and Levites from all their districts throughout Israel sided with him. |
| 14for the Levites left their pasturelands and their possessions and went to Judah and Jerusalem, because Jeroboam and his sons refused to let them serve as priests of Yahweh. | 14The Levites even abandoned their pasturelands and property and came to Judah and Jerusalem, because Jeroboam and his sons had rejected them as priests of the LORD |
| 15Jeroboam appointed his own priests for the high places, the goat-demons, and the golden calves he had made. | 15when he appointed his own priests for the high places and for the goat and calf idols he had made. |
| 16Those from every tribe of Israel who had determined in their hearts to seek Yahweh their God followed the Levites to Jerusalem to sacrifice to Yahweh, the God of their ancestors. | 16Those from every tribe of Israel who set their hearts on seeking the LORD, the God of Israel, followed the Levites to Jerusalem to offer sacrifices to the LORD, the God of their ancestors. |
| 17So they strengthened the kingdom of Judah and supported Rehoboam son of Solomon for three years, because they walked in the way of David and Solomon for three years. | 17They strengthened the kingdom of Judah and supported Rehoboam son of Solomon three years, following the ways of David and Solomon during this time. |
| 18Rehoboam married Mahalath, daughter of David's son Jerimoth and of Abihail daughter of Jesse's son Eliab. | 18Rehoboam married Mahalath, who was the daughter of David's son Jerimoth and of Abihail, the daughter of Jesse's son Eliab. |
| 19She bore sons to him: Jeush, Shemariah, and Zaham. | 19She bore him sons: Jeush, Shemariah and Zaham. |
| 20After her, he married Maacah daughter of Absalom. She bore Abijah, Attai, Ziza, and Shelomith to him. | 20Then he married Maakah daughter of Absalom, who bore him Abijah, Attai, Ziza and Shelomith. |
| 21Rehoboam loved Maacah daughter of Absalom more than all his wives and concubines. He acquired 18 wives and 60 concubines and was the father of 28 sons and 60 daughters. | 21Rehoboam loved Maakah daughter of Absalom more than any of his other wives and concubines. In all, he had eighteen wives and sixty concubines, twenty-eight sons and sixty daughters. |
| 22Rehoboam appointed Abijah son of Maacah as chief, leader among his brothers, intending to make him king. | 22Rehoboam appointed Abijah son of Maakah as crown prince among his brothers, in order to make him king. |
| 23Rehoboam also showed discernment by dispersing some of his sons to all the regions of Judah and Benjamin and to all the fortified cities. He gave them plenty of provisions and sought many wives for them. | 23He acted wisely, dispersing some of his sons throughout the districts of Judah and Benjamin, and to all the fortified cities. He gave them abundant provisions and took many wives for them. |
| Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. | New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. |
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