Darby Bible Translation

New Living Translation

Shemaiah's Prophecy

And Rehoboam came to Jerusalem; and he assembled the house of Judah and Benjamin, a hundred and eighty thousand chosen men apt for war, to fight against Israel, that he might bring the kingdom again to Rehoboam.

1

Shemaiah’s Prophecy

When Rehoboam arrived at Jerusalem, he mobilized the men of Judah and Benjamin — 180,000 select troops — to fight against Israel and to restore the kingdom to himself.

2

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

2

But the LORD said to Shemaiah, the man of God,

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

3

“Say to Rehoboam son of Solomon, king of Judah, and to all the Israelites in Judah and Benjamin:

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Thus saith Jehovah: Go not up, nor fight with your brethren; return every man to his house; for this thing is from me. And they hearkened to the words of Jehovah, and returned from going against Jeroboam.

4

‘This is what the LORD says: Do not fight against your relatives. Go back home, for what has happened is my doing!’” So they obeyed the message of the LORD and did not fight against Jeroboam.

5

Rehoboam Fortifies Judah

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

5

Rehoboam Fortifies Judah

Rehoboam remained in Jerusalem and fortified various towns for the defense of Judah.

6

And he built Bethlehem, and Etam, and Tekoa,

6

He built up Bethlehem, Etam, Tekoa,

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and Beth-zur, and Soco, and Adullam,

7

Beth-zur, Soco, Adullam,

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and Gath, and Mareshah, and Ziph,

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Gath, Mareshah, Ziph,

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and Adoraim, and Lachish, and Azekah,

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Adoraim, Lachish, Azekah,

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and Zorah, and Ajalon, and Hebron, which are in Judah and in Benjamin, fortified cities.

10

Zorah, Aijalon, and Hebron. These became the fortified towns of Judah and Benjamin.

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And he fortified the strongholds, and put captains in them, and stores of victuals, and of oil and wine;

11

Rehoboam strengthened their defenses and stationed commanders in them, and he stored supplies of food, olive oil, and wine.

12

and in every several city, targets and spears, and made them exceedingly strong. And Judah and Benjamin were his.

12

He also put shields and spears in these towns as a further safety measure. So only Judah and Benjamin remained under his control.

13

Priests and Levites Forsaken by Jeroboam

And the priests and the Levites that were in all Israel resorted to him out of all their districts;

13

But all the priests and Levites living among the northern tribes of Israel sided with Rehoboam.

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for the Levites left their suburbs and their possessions, and came to Judah and Jerusalem: for Jeroboam and his sons had cast them off from exercising the priesthood to Jehovah;

14

The Levites even abandoned their pasturelands and property and moved to Judah and Jerusalem, because Jeroboam and his sons would not allow them to serve the LORD as priests.

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and he ordained for himself priests for the high places, and for the he-goats and for the calves that he had made.

15

Jeroboam appointed his own priests to serve at the pagan shrines, where they worshiped the goat and calf idols he had made.

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And after them, those out of all the tribes of Israel that set their heart to seek Jehovah the God of Israel came to Jerusalem, to sacrifice to Jehovah the God of their fathers.

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From all the tribes of Israel, those who sincerely wanted to worship the LORD, the God of Israel, followed the Levites to Jerusalem, where they could offer sacrifices to the LORD, the God of their ancestors.

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And they strengthened the kingdom of Judah, and made Rehoboam the son of Solomon strong three years; for during three years they walked in the way of David and Solomon.

17

This strengthened the kingdom of Judah, and for three years they supported Rehoboam son of Solomon, for during those years they faithfully followed in the footsteps of David and Solomon.

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Rehoboam's Family

And Rehoboam took Mahalath the daughter of Jerimoth the son of David as wife, [and of] Abihail the daughter of Eliab the son of Jesse.

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Rehoboam’s Family

Rehoboam married his cousin Mahalath, the daughter of David’s son Jerimoth and of Abihail, the daughter of Eliab son of Jesse.

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And she bore him children: Jeush, and Shemariah, and Zaham.

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Mahalath had three sons — Jeush, Shemariah, and Zaham.

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And after her he took Maachah the daughter of Absalom; and she bore him Abijah, and Attai, and Ziza, and Shelomith.

20

Later Rehoboam married another cousin, Maacah, the granddaughter of Absalom. Maacah gave birth to Abijah, Attai, Ziza, and Shelomith.

21

And Rehoboam loved Maachah the daughter of Absalom above all his wives and his concubines; for he had taken eighteen wives and sixty concubines, and he begot twenty-eight sons and sixty daughters.

21

Rehoboam loved Maacah more than any of his other wives and concubines. In all, he had eighteen wives and sixty concubines, and they gave birth to twenty-eight sons and sixty daughters.

22

And Rehoboam established Abijah the son of Maachah at the head, to be ruler among his brethren; for [he thought] to make him king.

22

Rehoboam appointed Maacah’s son Abijah as leader among the princes, making it clear that he would be the next king.

23

And he dealt wisely, and dispersed of all his sons throughout all the lands of Judah and Benjamin, to all the fortified cities; and he gave them food in abundance. And he desired [for them] a multitude of wives.

23

Rehoboam also wisely gave responsibilities to his other sons and stationed some of them in the fortified towns throughout the land of Judah and Benjamin. He provided them with generous provisions, and he found many wives for them.

Parallel

Darby Bible Translation

New Living Translation

2 Chronicles 11

2 Chronicles 11