1 venit autem Roboam in Hierusalem
et convocavit universam domum Iuda et Beniamin
in centum octoginta milibus electorum atque
bellantium
ut dimicaret contra Israhel
et converteret ad se regnum suum
2 factusque est sermo Domini ad Semeiam hominem Dei dicens
3 loquere ad Roboam filium Salomonis regem Iuda
et ad universum Israhel qui est in Iuda et Beniamin
4 haec dicit Dominus non ascendetis
neque pugnabitis contra fratres vestros
revertatur unusquisque in domum suam
quia mea hoc gestum est voluntate
qui cum audissent sermonem Domini reversi sunt
nec perrexerunt contra Hieroboam
5 habitavit autem Roboam in Hierusalem
et aedificavit civitates muratas in Iuda
6 extruxitque Bethleem et Aetham et Thecue
7 Bethsur quoque et Soccho et Odollam
8 nec non Geth et Maresa et Ziph
9 sed et Aduram et Lachis et Azecha
10 Saraa quoque et Ahilon et Hebron
quae erant in Iuda et Beniamin civitates
munitissimas
11 cumque clausisset eas muris posuit in eis principes
ciborumque horrea hoc est olei et vini
12 sed et in singulis urbibus fecit armamentaria scutorum et
hastarum
firmavitque eas multa diligentia
et imperavit super Iudam et Beniamin
13 sacerdotes autem et Levitae qui erant in universo Israhel
venerunt ad eum de cunctis sedibus suis
14 relinquentes suburbana et possessiones suas
et transeuntes ad Iudam et Hierusalem
eo quod abiecisset eos Hieroboam et posteri eius
ne sacerdotio Domini fungerentur
15 qui constituit sibi sacerdotes excelsorum et daemonum vitulorumque quos fecerat
16 sed et de cunctis tribubus Israhel
quicumque dederant cor suum ut quaererent Dominum Deum Israhel
venerunt Hierusalem
ad immolandas victimas Domino Deo patrum
suorum
17 et roboraverunt regnum Iuda
et confirmaverunt Roboam filium Salomonis per tres
annos
ambulaverunt enim in viis David et Salomonis annis tantum tribus
18 duxit autem Roboam uxorem Maalath filiam Hierimuth filii David
Abiail quoque filiam Heliab filii Isai
19 quae peperit ei filios Ieus et Somoriam et Zoom
20 post hanc quoque accepit Maacha filiam Absalom
quae peperit ei Abia et Ethai et Ziza et Salumith
21 amavit autem Roboam Maacha filiam Absalom
super omnes uxores suas et concubinas
nam uxores decem et octo duxerat
concubinasque sexaginta
et genuit viginti octo filios et sexaginta filias
22 constituit vero in capite Abiam filium Maacha
ducem super fratres suos
ipsum enim regem facere cogitabat
23 qui sapientior fuit et potentior super omnes
filios eius
et in cunctis finibus Iuda et Beniamin
et in universis civitatibus muratis
praebuitque eis escas plurimas et multas petivit uxores
1 And 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. 2 But the word of the LORD came to Shemaiah the man of God, saying, 3 Speak unto Rehoboam the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and to all Israel in Judah and Benjamin, saying, 4 Thus 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.
5 ¶ And Rehoboam dwelt in Jerusalem, and built cities for defence in Judah. 6 He built even Beth-lehem, and Etam, and Tekoa, 7 And Beth-zur, and Shoco, and Adullam, 8 And Gath, and Mareshah, and Ziph, 9 And Adoraim, and Lachish, and Azekah, 10 And Zorah, and Aijalon, and Hebron, which are in Judah and in Benjamin 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 and Benjamin on his side.
13 ¶ And the priests and the Levites that were in all Israel resorted to him out of all their coasts. 14 For 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: 15 And he ordained him priests for the high places, and for the devils, and for the calves which he had made. 16 And 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. 17 So 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.
18 ¶ 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; 19 Which bare him children; Jeush, and Shamariah, and Zaham. 20 And after her he took Maachah the daughter of Absalom; which bare him Abijah, and Attai, and Ziza, and Shelomith. 21 And 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.) 22 And Rehoboam made Abijah 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 and Benjamin, unto every fenced city: and he gave them victual in abundance. And he desired many wives.