1 And when Rehoboam (Rechavam) was come to Jerusalem (Yerushalayim), he gathered of the house of Judah (Yehudah) and Benjamin (Binyamin) a hundred and fourscore thousand chosen men, who were warriors, to fight against Yisrael, that he might bring the kingdom again to Rehoboam (Rechavam).
2 But the word of יהוה came to Shemayah the man of God (Elohim), saying,
3 “Speak unto Rehoboam (Rechavam) the son of Solomon (Shelomoh), king of Judah (Yehudah), and to all Yisrael in Judah (Yehudah) and Benjamin (Binyamin), saying,
4 ‘Thus saith יהוה: “You 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 יהוה, and returned from going against Jeroboam (Yarovam).
5 And Rehoboam (Rechavam) dwelt in Jerusalem (Yerushalayim), and built cities for defence in Judah (Yehudah).
6 He built even Bethlehem (Beit-Lechem), 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 Ayalon, and Hebron, which are in Judah (Yehudah) and in Benjamin (Binyamin) 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 (Yehudah) and Benjamin (Binyamin) on his side.
13 And the priests (kohanim) and the Levites (Lewiyim) that were in all Yisrael resorted to him out of all their coasts.
14 For the Levites (Lewiyim) left their suburbs and their possession, and came to Judah (Yehudah) and Jerusalem (Yerushalayim), for Jeroboam (Yarovam) and his sons had cast them off from executing the priest’s office (kehunnah) unto יהוה.
15 And he ordained him priests (kohanim) for the high places, and for the idols of goat-demons (sairim), and the calves which he had made.
16 And those out of all the tribes of Yisrael such as set their hearts to seek יהוה God of Israel (Elohei Yisrael), followed them to Jerusalem (Yerushalayim), to sacrifice unto יהוה God (Elohim) of their fathers.
17 So they strengthened the kingdom of Judah (Yehudah), and made Rehoboam (Rechavam) the son of Solomon (Shelomoh) strong, three years; for three years they walked in the way of Dawid and Solomon (Shelomoh).
18 And Rehoboam (Rechavam) took him Mahalath the daughter of Yerimot the son of Dawid as wife, and Avihail the daughter of Eliav the son of Jesse (Yishai);
19 Who bare him children: Yeush, and Shamaryah, and Zaham.
20 And after her he took Maachah the daughter of Avshalom; who bare him Aviyah, and Attai, and Ziza, and Shelomith.
21 And Rehoboam (Rechavam) loved Maachah the daughter of Avshalom 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 (Rechavam) made Aviyah 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 (Yehudah) and Benjamin (Binyamin), unto every fenced city; and he gave them victual in abundance. And he desired many wives.