2 Chronicles Chapter 11
So when Rehoboam pulled up to Jerusalem, he rounded up 180k elite soldiers from Judah and Benjamin, ready to go hard against Israel to take back his throne.
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.
But then God vibed with Shemaiah, the man of God, and sent him a message.
But the word of the LORD came to Shemaiah the man of God, saying,
He was like, "Yo, Rehoboam, son of Solomon, king of Judah, and everyone in Israel from Judah and Benjamin, listen up!"
Speak unto Rehoboam the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and to all Israel in Judah and Benjamin, saying,
The Lord dropped some truth: "Don’t clash with your fam. Everybody head home, this is my scheme." And they were like, "Bet," and chilled instead of chasing down Jeroboam.
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.
So Rehoboam held it down in Jerusalem and fortified some cities in Judah.
And Rehoboam dwelt in Jerusalem, and built cities for defence in Judah.
He even boosted Bethlehem, Etam, and Tekoa,
He built even Bethlehem, and Etam, and Tekoa,
Along with Beth-zur, Shoco, and Adullam,
And Bethzur, and Shoco, and Adullam,
Plus Gath, Mareshah, and Ziph,
And Gath, and Mareshah, and Ziph,
And Adoraim, Lachish, and Azekah,
And Adoraim, and Lachish, and Azekah,
And Zorah, Aijalon, and Hebron, all fortified cities in Judah and Benjamin.
And Zorah, and Aijalon, and Hebron, which {are} in Judah and in Benjamin fenced cities.
He ramped up the strongholds, appointed captains, and stacked up on food, oil, and wine.
And he fortified the strong holds, and put captains in them, and store of victual, and of oil and wine.
In every city, he set up shields and spears, making them hella fortified, with Judah and Benjamin behind him.
And in every several city {he put} shields and spears, and made them exceeding strong, having Judah and Benjamin on his side.
Priests and Levites from all corners of Israel showed up to him from their regions.
And the priests and the Levites that {were} in all Israel resorted to him out of all their coasts. {resorted...: Heb. presented themselves to him}
The Levites bounced from their land and moved to Judah and Jerusalem since Jeroboam and his kids kicked them out from serving God.
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:
He made them priests for the high places, and for the idols and calves he crafted.
And he ordained him priests for the high places, and for the devils, and for the calves which he had made.
And from all the tribes of Israel, those who wanted to vibe with the Lord God of Israel came to Jerusalem to make sacrifices to their ancestors’ God.
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.
They strengthened the kingdom of Judah and solidified Rehoboam, son of Solomon, for three years, following in the footsteps of David and Solomon.
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.
Rehoboam picked Mahalath, daughter of Jerimoth, son of David, as his wife, and also Abihail, daughter of Eliab, son of Jesse;
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;
She gave him kids: Jeush, Shamariah, and Zaham.
Which bare him children; Jeush, and Shamariah, and Zaham.
Then he took Maachah, daughter of Absalom, who had him Abijah, Attai, Ziza, and Shelomith.
And after her he took Maachah the daughter of Absalom; which bare him Abijah, and Attai, and Ziza, and Shelomith. {Maachah: she is also called Michaiah the daughter of Uriel}
Rehoboam was all about Maachah, daughter of Absalom, more than all his other wives and side pieces (he had 18 wives and 60 concubines, plus 28 sons and 60 daughters, no cap).
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.)
He made Abijah, son of Maachah, the top dog to lead his bros, thinking he’d make him king.
And Rehoboam made Abijah the son of Maachah the chief, {to be} ruler among his brethren: for {he thought} to make him king.
He played it smart, spreading his kids around Judah and Benjamin to every fortified city, hooking them up with hella food. Plus, he was on the lookout for more wives.
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. {many wives: Heb. a multitude of wives}