2Ch 2 Chronicles, chapter Second Book of Chronicles, chapter 11
Rehoboam Reigns over Judah and Builds Cities
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. 1Ki 12:21But the word of the Lord came to Shemaiah the man of God, saying, 1Ki 12:22“Tell Rehoboam the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and all Israel in Judah and Benjamin, saying, ‘This is what the Lord says: “You shall not go up nor fight against your relatives; return, every man, to his house, for this 11:4 Lit thingevent is from Me.” ’ ” So they listened to the words of the Lord and returned from going against Jeroboam.1Ki 12:24; 2Ch 10:15
Rehoboam lived in Jerusalem and built cities for defense in Judah. He built Bethlehem, Etam, Tekoa, Gen 35:19Beth-zur, Soco, Adullam, Gath, Mareshah, Ziph, Adoraim, Lachish, Azekah, Zorah, Aijalon, and Hebron, which are fortified cities in Judah and Benjamin. He also strengthened the fortresses and put officers in them and supplies of food, oil, and wine. He put shields and spears in every city and strengthened them greatly. So he held Judah and Benjamin.
Moreover, the priests and the Levites who were in all Israel also stood with him from all their districts.
Jeroboam Appoints False Priests
For the Levites left their pasture lands and their property and went to Judah and Jerusalem, because Jeroboam and his sons had excluded them from serving as priests to the Lord. Num 35:2; 1Ki 12:31He set up priests of his own for the high places, for the satyrs and the calves which he had made. 1Ki 12:31; 2Ch 13:9Those from all the tribes of Israel who set their hearts on seeking the Lord God of Israel 11:16 Lit came afterfollowed them to Jerusalem, to sacrifice to the Lord God of their fathers. 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.2Ch 12:1
Rehoboam’s Family
Then Rehoboam married Mahalath the daughter of Jerimoth the son of David and of Abihail the daughter of Eliab the son of Jesse, 1Sa 16:6and she bore to him sons: Jeush, Shemariah, and Zaham. After her he married Maacah the daughter of 11:20 In 1 Kin 15:2, AbishalomAbsalom, and she bore to him Abijah, Attai, Ziza, and Shelomith. 2Ch 13:2Rehoboam loved Maacah the daughter of Absalom more than all his other wives and concubines. For he had taken eighteen wives and sixty concubines, and fathered twenty-eight sons and sixty daughters. 1Ki 15:2Rehoboam appointed Abijah the son of Maacah as head and leader among his brothers, for he intended to make him king. 1Ki 15:1He acted wisely and distributed 11:23 Lit from allsome of his sons through all the territories of Judah and Benjamin to all the fortified cities, and he gave them plenty of provisions. And he sought many wives for them.