1
When Rechav’am had come to Yerushalayim, he assembled the house of Yehudah and Binyamin, one hundred eighty thousand chosen men, who were warriors, to fight against Yisra’el, to bring the kingdom again to Rechav’am.
2
But the word of the Yahuah came to Shemayahu the man of Elohim, saying,
3
"Speak to Rechav’am the son of Shəlomah, king of Yehudah, and to all Yisra’el in Yehudah and Binyamin, saying,
4
'Thus says the Yahuah, "You shall not go up, nor fight against your brothers! Return every man to his house; for this thing is of me."'" So they listened to the words of the Yahuah, and returned from going against Yarov’am.
5
Rechav’am lived in Yerushalayim, and built cities for defense in Yehudah.
6
He built Beit-Lechem, and Etam, and Tekoa,
7
Beth Zur, and Soco, and Adullam,
8
and Gath, and Mareshah, and Ziph,
9
and Adoraim, and Lachish, and Azekah,
10
and Zorah, and Aijalon, and Chevron, which are in Yehudah and in Binyamin, fortified cities.
11
He fortified the strongholds, and put captains in them, and stores of food, and oil and wine.
12
He put shields and spears in every city, and made them exceeding strong. Yehudah and Binyamin belonged to him.
13
The kohenim and the Leviyim who were in all Yisra’el resorted to him out of all their border.
14
For the Leviyim left their suburbs and their possession, and came to Yehudah and Yerushalayim: for Yarov’am and his sons cast them off, that they should not execute the kohen's office to the Yahuah;
15
and he appointed him kohenim for the high places, and for the male goats, and for the calves which he had made.
16
After them, out of all the tribes of Yisra’el, such as set their hearts to seek the Yahuah, the Elohim of Yisra’el, came to Yerushalayim to sacrifice to the Yahuah, the Elohim of their fathers.
17
So they strengthened the kingdom of Yehudah, and made Rechav’am the son of Shəlomah strong, three years; for they walked three years in the way of Daviyd and Shəlomah.
18
Rechav’am took him a wife, Mahalath the daughter of Jerimoth the son of Daviyd, and of Abihail the daughter of Eliab the son of Yishai;
19
and she bore him sons: Jeush, and Shemariah, and Zaham.
20
After her he took Maacah the daughter of Avshalom; and she bore him Aviyah, and Attai, and Ziza, and Shelomith.
21
Rechav’am loved Maacah the daughter of Avshalom above all his wives and his concubines: (for he took eighteen wives, and sixty concubines, and became the father of twenty-eight sons and sixty daughters.)
22
Rechav’am appointed Aviyah the son of Maacah to be chief, the prince among his brothers; for he intended to make him king.
23
He dealt wisely, and dispersed of all his sons throughout all the lands of Yehudah and Binyamin, to every fortified city: and he gave them food in abundance. He sought for them many wives.