| 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. |
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| 2: But the word of the LORD came to Shemaiah the man of God,
saying, |
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| 3:
Speak unto Rehoboam the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and to
all Israel in Judah and Benjamin, saying, |
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| 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. |
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| 5: And Rehoboam dwelt in Jerusalem, and built cities for defence
in Judah. |
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| 6: He built even Bethlehem, and Etam, and Tekoa, |
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| 7: And Beth-zur, and Shoco, and Adullam, |
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| 8: And Gath, and Mareshah, and Ziph, |
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| 9: And Adoraim, and Lachish, and Azekah, |
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| 10: And Zorah, and Aijalon, and Hebron, which are in Judah and in
Benjamin fenced cities. |
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| 11: And he fortified the strong holds, and put captains in them,
and store of victual, and of oil and wine. |
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| 12: And in every several city he put shields and spears, and made
them exceeding strong, having Judah and Benjamin on his side. |
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| 13: And the priests and the Levites that were in all Israel
resorted to him out of all their coasts. |
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| 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: |
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| 15: And he ordained him priests for the high places, and for the
devils, and for the calves which he had made. |
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| 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. |
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| 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. |
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| 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; |
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| 19: Which bare him children; Jeush, and Shamariah, and Zaham.
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| 20: And after her he took Maachah the daughter of Absalom; which
bare him Abijah, and Attai, and Ziza, and Shelomith. |
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| 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.) |
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| 22: And hoboam made Abijah the son of Maachah the chief, to be
ruler among his brethren: for he thought to make him king. |
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| 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.
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