And he ordained in all cities shields and spears, and made them exceeding strong. And so Judah and Benjamin were under him.

And the priests and Levites that were in all Israel resorted to him, out of all their coasts.

And after them came there men out of all the tribes of Israel, which gave over their hearts to seek the LORD God of Israel, and came to Jerusalem to offer unto the LORD God of their fathers.

And so they strengthened the kingdom of Judah and made Rehoboam the son of Solomon mighty three years long - for three years they walked in the way of David and Solomon.

And when Rehoboam was come to Jerusalem, he gathered of the house of Judah and Benjamin to the number of nine score thousand choice men of war to fight with Israel, for to bring the kingdom again to Rehoboam.

Insomuch that the Levites left their suburbs and possessions and came to Judah and Jerusalem: for Jeroboam and his sons had cast them out from ministering unto the LORD.

And he ordained him priests of hill altars - both to field devils and also to the calves which he had made.

And after her, he took Maacah the daughter of Absalom which bare him Abijah, Attai, Ziza and Shelomith.

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,

But Rehoboam loved Maacah the daughter of Absalom above all his wives and concubines for he took eighteen wives and three score concubines, and begat three score daughters and twenty eight sons.

which bare him children: Jeush, Shemariah, and Zaham.

And Rehoboam made Abijah the son of Maacah the chief ruler among his brethren, for to make him king.

Zorah, Aijalon and Hebron: Which were the strong cities of Judah and Benjamin.

And he played wisely and scattered of all his children throughout all the countries of Judah and Benjamin in every strong city. And he gave them abundance of victuals, and asked many wives.

And Rehoboam dwelt in Jerusalem, and built strong cities in Judah:

as Bethlehem, Etam and Tekoa;

But the word of the LORD came to Shemaiah the man of God, saying,

And when he had repaired such strong cities, he put captains in them and store of victuals, and of oil and wine.

'Thus sayeth the LORD. Go not nor fight with your brethren: But 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.

Bethzur, Socoh and Adullam;

Adoraim, Lachish and Azekah;

"Speak unto Rehoboam the son of Solomon king of Judah and to all Israel that are in Judah, and to Benjamin, and say,

Gath, Mareshah and Ziph;