11:1 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.
11:1 Now when Rehoboam came to Jerusalem, he assembled from the house of Judah and Benjamin one hundred and eighty thousand chosen men who were warriors, to fight against Israel, that he might restore the kingdom to Rehoboam.

11:2 But the word of the LORD came to Shemaiah the man of God, saying,
11:2 But the word of the LORD came to Shemaiah the man of God, saying,

11:3 Speak unto Rehoboam the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and to all Israel in Judah and Benjamin, saying,
11:3 "Speak to Rehoboam the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and to all Israel in Judah and Benjamin, saying,

11:4 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.
11:4 'Thus says the LORD: "You shall not go up or fight against your brethren! Let every man return to his house, for this thing is from Me."'" Therefore they obeyed the words of the LORD, and turned back from attacking Jeroboam.

11:5 And Rehoboam dwelt in Jerusalem, and built cities for defence in Judah.
11:5 So Rehoboam dwelt in Jerusalem, and built cities for defense in Judah.

11:6 He built even Bethlehem, and Etam, and Tekoa,
11:6 And he built Bethlehem, Etam, Tekoa,

11:7 And Bethzur, and Shoco, and Adullam,
11:7 Beth Zur, Sochoh, Adullam,

11:8 And Gath, and Mareshah, and Ziph,
11:8 Gath, Mareshah, Ziph,

11:9 And Adoraim, and Lachish, and Azekah,
11:9 Adoraim, Lachish, Azekah,

11:10 And Zorah, and Aijalon, and Hebron, which [are] in Judah and in Benjamin fenced cities.
11:10 Zorah, Aijalon, and Hebron, which are in Judah and Benjamin, fortified cities.

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

11:12 And in every several city [he put] shields and spears, and made them exceeding strong, having Judah and Benjamin on his side.
11:12 Also in every city he put shields and spears, and made them very strong, having Judah and Benjamin on his side.

11:13 And the priests and the Levites that [were] in all Israel resorted to him out of all their coasts.
11:13 And from all their territories the priests and the Levites who were in all Israel took their stand with him.

11:14 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:
11:14 For the Levites left their common-lands and their possessions and came to Judah and Jerusalem, for Jeroboam and his sons had rejected them from serving as priests to the LORD.

11:15 And he ordained him priests for the high places, and for the devils, and for the calves which he had made.
11:15 Then he appointed for himself priests for the high places, for the demons, and the calf idols which he had made.

11:16 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.
11:16 And after the Levites left, those from all the tribes of Israel, such as set their heart to seek the LORD God of Israel, came to Jerusalem to sacrifice to the LORD God of their fathers.

11:17 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.
11:17 So they strengthened the kingdom of Judah, and made Rehoboam the son of Solomon strong for three years, because they walked in the way of David and Solomon for three years.

11:18 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;
11:18 Then Rehoboam took for himself as wife Mahalath the daughter of Jerimoth the son of David, and of Abihail the daughter of Eliah the son of Jesse.

11:19 Which bare him children; Jeush, and Shamariah, and Zaham.
11:19 And she bore him children: Jeush, Shamariah, and Zaham.

11:20 And after her he took Maachah the daughter of Absalom; which bare him Abijah, and Attai, and Ziza, and Shelomith.
11:20 After her he took Maacah the granddaughter of Absalom; and she bore him Abijah, Attai, Ziza, and Shelomith.

11:21 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.)
11:21 Now Rehoboam loved Maachah the granddaughter of Absalom more than all his wives and his concubines; for he took eighteen wives and sixty concubines, and begot twenty-eight sons and sixty daughters.

11:22 And Rehoboam made Abijah the son of Maachah the chief, [to be] ruler among his brethren: for [he thought] to make him king.
11:22 And Rehoboam appointed Abijah the son of Maachah as chief, to be leader among his brothers; for he intended to make him king.

11:23 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.
11:23 He dealt wisely, and dispersed some of his sons throughout all the territories of Judah and Benjamin, to every fortified city; and he gave them provisions in abundance. He also sought many wives for them.