1When Rehoboam rolled up to Jerusalem, he gathered 180k chosen warriors from Judah and Benjamin, ready to pop off against Israel to reclaim his kingdom.

2But then the Lord hit up Shemaiah, the man of God, with a message.

3He said, "Yo, Rehoboam, son of Solomon, king of Judah, and all Israel in Judah and Benjamin, listen up!"

4The Lord dropped some wisdom: "Don’t go fight your fam. Everyone go home, this is my plan." And they were like, "Bet," and chilled instead of going after Jeroboam.

5So Rehoboam stayed in Jerusalem and built up some defensive cities in Judah.

6He even built up Bethlehem, Etam, and Tekoa,

7And Beth-zur, Shoco, and Adullam,

8And Gath, Mareshah, and Ziph,

9And Adoraim, Lachish, and Azekah,

10And Zorah, Aijalon, and Hebron, all fenced cities in Judah and Benjamin.

11He beefed up the strongholds, put captains in charge, and stocked up on food, oil, and wine.

12In every city, he set up shields and spears, making them super strong, with Judah and Benjamin backing him.

13The priests and Levites from all over Israel came to him from their territories.

14The Levites ditched their lands and settled in Judah and Jerusalem because Jeroboam and his sons kicked them out from serving the Lord.

15He appointed them as priests for the high places, and for the idols and calves he made.

16And from all the tribes of Israel, those who wanted to seek the Lord God of Israel came to Jerusalem to sacrifice to their ancestors’ God.

17They boosted the kingdom of Judah and made Rehoboam, son of Solomon, strong for three years, walking in the ways of David and Solomon.

18Rehoboam took Mahalath, daughter of Jerimoth, son of David, as his wife, and Abihail, daughter of Eliab, son of Jesse;

19She had him kids: Jeush, Shamariah, and Zaham.

20Then he took Maachah, daughter of Absalom, who had him Abijah, Attai, Ziza, and Shelomith.

21Rehoboam was all about Maachah, daughter of Absalom, more than all his other wives and concubines (he had 18 wives and 60 concubines, and 28 sons and 60 daughters, no cap).

22He made Abijah, son of Maachah, the chief to lead his bros, thinking he’d make him king.

23He played it smart, spreading his kids around Judah and Benjamin to every fortified city, giving them hella food. Plus, he was looking for more wives.

1And 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.

2But the word of the Lord came to Shemaiah the man of God, saying,

3Speak unto Rehoboam the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and to all Israel in Judah and Benjamin, saying,

4Thus 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.

5And Rehoboam dwelt in Jerusalem, and built cities for defence in Judah.

6He built even Beth–lehem, and Etam, and Tekoa,

7And Beth–zur, and Shoco, and Adullam,

8And Gath, and Mareshah, and Ziph,

9And Adoraim, and Lachish, and Azekah,

10And Zorah, and Aijalon, and Hebron, which are in Judah and in Benjamin fenced cities.

11And he fortified the strong holds, and put captains in them, and store of victual, and of oil and wine.

12And in every several city he put shields and spears, and made them exceeding strong, having Judah and Benjamin on his side.

13And the priests and the Levites that were in all Israel resorted to him out of all their coasts.

14For 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:

15And he ordained him priests for the high places, and for the devils, and for the calves which he had made.

16And 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.

17So 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.

18And Rehoboam took him Mahalath the daughter of Jerimoth the son of David to wife, and Abihail the daughter of Eliab the son of Jesse;

19Which bare him children; Jeush, and Shamariah, and Zaham.

20And after her he took Maachah the daughter of Absalom; which bare him Abijah, and Attai, and Ziza, and Shelomith.

21And 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.)

22And Rehoboam made Abijah the son of Maachah the chief, to be ruler among his brethren: for he thought to make him king.

23And 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.