2 Chronicles 11:1-17

New American Standard Bible

Rehoboam Reigns over Judah and Builds Cities

11 ^(A)Now when Rehoboam had come to Jerusalem, he assembled the house of Judah and Benjamin, 180,000 chosen warriors, to fight against Israel to restore the kingdom to Rehoboam. ² But the word of the Lord came to ^(B)Shemaiah the man of God, saying, ³ “Tell Rehoboam the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and all Israel in Judah and Benjamin, saying, ⁴ ‘This is what the Lord says: “You shall not go up nor fight against ^(C)your relatives; return, every man, to his house, ^(D)for this ^[a]event is from Me.”’” So they listened to the words of the Lord and returned from going against Jeroboam.

⁵ Rehoboam lived in Jerusalem and ^(E)built cities for defense in Judah. ⁶ He built Bethlehem, Etam, Tekoa, ⁷ Beth-zur, Soco, Adullam, ⁸ Gath, Mareshah, Ziph, ⁹ Adoraim, Lachish, Azekah, ¹⁰ Zorah, Aijalon, and Hebron, which are fortified cities in Judah and Benjamin. ¹¹ He also strengthened the fortresses and put officers in them and supplies of food, oil, and wine. ¹² He put shields and spears in every city and strengthened them greatly. So he held Judah and Benjamin.

¹³ Moreover, the priests and the Levites who were in all Israel also stood with him from all their districts.

Jeroboam Appoints False Priests

¹⁴ For ^(F)the Levites left their pasture lands and their property and went to Judah and Jerusalem, because ^(G)Jeroboam and his sons had excluded them from serving as priests to the Lord. ^15 (H)He set up priests of his own for the high places, for the satyrs and the calves which he had made. ^16 (I)Those from all the tribes of Israel who set their hearts on seeking the Lord God of Israel ^[b]followed them to Jerusalem, to sacrifice to the Lord God of their fathers. ^17 (J)They strengthened the kingdom of Judah and supported Rehoboam the son of Solomon for three years, for they walked in the way of David and Solomon for three years.