Shemaiah’s Prophecy (1 Kings 12:20–24)
1 Brenton And Roboam came to Jerusalem; and he assembled Juda and Benjamin, a hundred and eighty thousand young men fit for war, and he waged war with Israel to recover the kingdom to Roboam. BSB BSB: When Rehoboam arrived in Jerusalem, he mobilized the house of Judah and Benjamin—180,000 chosen warriors—to fight against Israel and restore the kingdom to Rehoboam.
2 Brenton And the word of the Lord came to Samaias the man of God, saying, BSB BSB: But the word of the LORD came to Shemaiah the man of God:
3 Brenton Speak to Roboam the son of Solomon, and to all Juda and Benjamin, saying, BSB BSB: “Tell Rehoboam son of Solomon king of Judah and all the Israelites in Judah and Benjamin
4 Brenton Thus saith the Lord, Ye shall not go up, and ye shall not war against your brethren: return every one to his home; for this thing is of me. And they hearkened to the word of the Lord, and returned from going against Jeroboam. BSB BSB: that this is what the LORD says: ‘You are not to go up and fight against your brothers. Each of you must return home, for this is My doing.’” So they listened to the words of the LORD and turned back from going against Jeroboam.
Rehoboam Fortifies Judah 6 Brenton And he built Bethleem, and Ætan and Thecoe, BSB BSB: He built up Bethlehem, Etam, Tekoa,
7 Brenton and Bæthsura, and Sochoth, and Odollam, BSB BSB: Beth-zur, Soco, Adullam,
8 Brenton and Geth, and Marisa, and Ziph, BSB BSB: Gath, Mareshah, Ziph,
9 Brenton and Adorai, and Lachis, and Azeca, BSB BSB: Adoraim, Lachish, Azekah,
10 Brenton and Saraa, and Ælom, and Chebron, which belongs to Juda and Benjamin, walled cities. BSB BSB: Zorah, Aijalon, and Hebron, the fortified cities in Judah and Benjamin.
11 Brenton And he fortified them with walls, and placed in them captains, and stores of provisions, oil and wine, BSB BSB: He strengthened their fortifications and put officers in them, with supplies of food, oil, and wine.
12 Brenton shields and spears in every several city, and he fortified them very strongly, and he had on his side Juda and Benjamin. BSB BSB: He also put shields and spears in all the cities and strengthened them greatly. So Judah and Benjamin belonged to him.
Jeroboam Forsakes the Priests and Levites 13 Brenton And the priests and the Levites who were in all Israel were gathered to him out of all the coasts. BSB BSB: Moreover, the priests and Levites from all their districts throughout Israel stood with Rehoboam.
14 Brenton For the Levites left the tents of their possession, and went to Juda to Jerusalem, because Jeroboam and his sons had ejected them so that they should not minister to the Lord. BSB BSB: For the Levites left their pasturelands and their possessions and went to Judah and Jerusalem, because Jeroboam and his sons had rejected them as priests of the LORD.
15 Brenton And he made for himself priests of the high places, and for the idols, and for the vanities, and for the calves which Jeroboam made. BSB BSB: And Jeroboam appointed his own priests for the high places and for the goat demons and calf idols he had made.
16 Brenton And he cast out from the tribes of Israel those who set their heart to seek the Lord God of Israel: and they came to Jerusalem, to sacrifice to the Lord God of their fathers. BSB BSB: Those from every tribe of Israel who had set their hearts to seek the LORD their God followed the Levites to Jerusalem to sacrifice to the LORD, the God of their fathers.
17 Brenton And they strengthened the kingdom of Juda; and Juda strengthened Roboam the son of Solomon for three years, for he walked three years in the ways of David and Solomon. BSB BSB: So they strengthened the kingdom of Judah and supported Rehoboam son of Solomon for three years, because they walked for three years in the way of David and Solomon.
Rehoboam’s Family 18 Brenton And Roboam took to himself for a wife Moolath daughter of Jerimuth the son of David, and Abigaia daughter of Heliab the son of Jessæ. BSB BSB: And Rehoboam married Mahalath, who was the daughter of David’s son Jerimoth and of Abihail, the daughter of Jesse’s son Eliab.
19 Brenton And she bore him sons; Jeus, and Samoria, and Zaam. BSB BSB: She bore sons to him: Jeush, Shemariah, and Zaham.
20 Brenton And afterwards he took to himself Maacha the daughter of Abessalom; and she bore him Abia, and Jetthi, and Zeza, and Salemoth. BSB BSB: After her, he married Maacah daughter of Absalom, and she bore to him Abijah, Attai, Ziza, and Shelomith.
21 Brenton And Roboam loved Maacha the daughter of Abessalom more than all his wives and all his concubines: for he had eighteen wives and sixty concubines; and he begot twenty-eight sons, and sixty daughters. BSB BSB: Rehoboam loved Maacah daughter of Absalom more than all his wives and concubines. In all, he had eighteen wives and sixty concubines, and he was the father of twenty-eight sons and sixty daughters.
22 Brenton And he made Abia the son of Maacha chief, even a leader among his brethren, for he intended to make him king. BSB BSB: Rehoboam appointed Abijah son of Maacah as chief prince among his brothers, intending to make him king.
23 Brenton And he was exalted beyond all his other sons in all the coasts of Juda and Benjamin, and in the strong cities; and he gave them provisions in great abundance: and he desired many wives. BSB BSB: Rehoboam also acted wisely by dispersing some of his sons throughout the districts of Judah and Benjamin, and to all the fortified cities. He gave them abundant provisions and sought many wives for them.
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