Shemaiah’s Prophecy (1 Kings 12:20–24)
1 UEB When Rehoboam arrived in Jerusalem, he assembled the house of Judah and Benjamin, 180,000 chosen men who were soldiers, to fight against Israel, to restore the kingdom to Rehoboam. 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 UEB But the word of Yahweh came to Shemaiah the man of God, saying, BSB BSB: But the word of the LORD came to Shemaiah the man of God:
3 UEB "Say to Rehoboam son of Solomon, king of Judah, and to all Israel in Judah and Benjamin, BSB BSB: “Tell Rehoboam son of Solomon king of Judah and all the Israelites in Judah and Benjamin
4 UEB 'Yahweh says this, "You must not attack or make war against your brothers. Everyone must return to his own house, for I have caused this to happen."'" So they obeyed the words of Yahweh and turned back from attacking 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 UEB He built Bethlehem, Etam, Tekoa, BSB BSB: He built up Bethlehem, Etam, Tekoa,
7 UEB Beth Zur, Soko, Adullam, BSB BSB: Beth-zur, Soco, Adullam,
8 UEB Gath, Mareshah, Ziph, BSB BSB: Gath, Mareshah, Ziph,
9 UEB Adoraim, Lachish, Azekah, BSB BSB: Adoraim, Lachish, Azekah,
10 UEB Zorah, Aijalon, and Hebron. These are fortified cities in Judah and Benjamin. BSB BSB: Zorah, Aijalon, and Hebron, the fortified cities in Judah and Benjamin.
11 UEB He fortified the fortresses and put commanders in them, with stores of food, oil, and wine. BSB BSB: He strengthened their fortifications and put officers in them, with supplies of food, oil, and wine.
12 UEB He put shields and spears in all the cities and made them very strong. So Judah and Benjamin belonged to him. 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 UEB The priests and the Levites who were in all Israel went over to him from within their borders. BSB BSB: Moreover, the priests and Levites from all their districts throughout Israel stood with Rehoboam.
14 UEB For the Levites left their pasturelands and property in order to come to Judah and Jerusalem, for Jeroboam and his sons had driven them away, so that they could no longer perform priestly duties for Yahweh. 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 UEB Jeroboam appointed for himself priests for the high places and the goat and calf idols he had 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 UEB People from all the tribes of Israel came after them, those who set their hearts to seek Yahweh, the God of Israel; they came to Jerusalem to sacrifice to Yahweh, the 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 UEB So they strengthened the kingdom of Judah and made Rehoboam son of Solomon strong during three years, and they walked for three years in the way 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 UEB Rehoboam took a wife for himself: Mahalath, the daughter of Jerimoth, David's son, and of Abihail, the daughter of Eliab, Jesse's son. 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 UEB She bore him sons: Jeush, Shemariah, and Zaham. BSB BSB: She bore sons to him: Jeush, Shemariah, and Zaham.
20 UEB After Mahalath, Rehoboam took Maacah, Absalom's daughter; she bore him Abijah, Attai, Ziza, and Shelomith. BSB BSB: After her, he married Maacah daughter of Absalom, and she bore to him Abijah, Attai, Ziza, and Shelomith.
21 UEB Rehoboam loved Maacah, Absalom's daughter, more than all his other wives and his concubines (he took eighteen wives and sixty concubines, and became the father of 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 UEB Rehoboam appointed Abijah son of Maacah to be chief, a leader among his brothers; he had the thought of making him king. BSB BSB: Rehoboam appointed Abijah son of Maacah as chief prince among his brothers, intending to make him king.
23 UEB Rehoboam ruled wisely; he scattered all his sons throughout all the land of Judah and Benjamin to every fortified city. He also gave them food in abundance and looked for many wives for them. 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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