Shemaiah’s Prophecy (1 Kings 12:20–24)
1 WBS And when Rehoboam had come to Jerusalem, he gathered of the house of Judah and Benjamin a hundred and eighty thousand chosen men who were warriors, to fight against Israel, that he might bring the kingdom again 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 WBS But the word of the LORD came to Shemaiah the man of God, saying, BSB BSB: But the word of the LORD came to Shemaiah the man of God:
3 WBS Speak to Rehoboam the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and to all Israel in Judah and Benjamin, saying, BSB BSB: “Tell Rehoboam son of Solomon king of Judah and all the Israelites in Judah and Benjamin
4 WBS Thus saith the LORD, Ye shall not go up, nor fight against your brethren: return every man to his house: for this thing is done by me. And they obeyed the words 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 WBS He built even Beth-lehem, and Etam, and Tekoa, BSB BSB: He built up Bethlehem, Etam, Tekoa,
7 WBS And Beth-zur, and Shocho, and Adullam, BSB BSB: Beth-zur, Soco, Adullam,
8 WBS And Gath, and Mareshah, and Ziph, BSB BSB: Gath, Mareshah, Ziph,
9 WBS And Adoraim, and Lachish, and Azekah, BSB BSB: Adoraim, Lachish, Azekah,
10 WBS And Zorah, and Ajalon, and Hebron, which are in Judah and in Benjamin, fortified cities. BSB BSB: Zorah, Aijalon, and Hebron, the fortified cities in Judah and Benjamin.
11 WBS And he fortified the strong holds, and put captains in them, and store of provisions, and of oil and wine. BSB BSB: He strengthened their fortifications and put officers in them, with supplies of food, oil, and wine.
12 WBS And in every several city he put shields and spears, and made them exceeding strong, having Judah and Benjamin on his side. 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 WBS And the priests and the Levites that were in all Israel resorted to him from all their borders. BSB BSB: Moreover, the priests and Levites from all their districts throughout Israel stood with Rehoboam.
14 WBS For the Levites left their suburbs and their possession, and came to Judah and Jerusalem: for Jeroboam and his sons had cast them off from executing the priest's office 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 WBS And he ordained him priests for the high places, and for the devils, and for the calves which 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 WBS And after them out of all the tribes of Israel, such as set their hearts to seek the LORD God of Israel 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 WBS So they strengthened the kingdom of Judah, and made Rehoboam the son of Solomon strong, three years: for three years they walked 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 WBS And Rehoboam took to himself Mahalath the daughter of Jerimoth the son of David for a wife, and Abihail the daughter of Eliab the son of Jesse; 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 WBS Who bore him children, Jeush, and Shamariah, and Zaham. BSB BSB: She bore sons to him: Jeush, Shemariah, and Zaham.
20 WBS And after her he took Maachah the daughter of Absalom; who bore him Abijah, and Attai, and Ziza, and Shelomith. BSB BSB: After her, he married Maacah daughter of Absalom, and she bore to him Abijah, Attai, Ziza, and Shelomith.
21 WBS And Rehoboam loved Maachah the daughter of Absalom above all his wives and his concubines: (for he took eighteen wives, and sixty concubines; and begat twenty and 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 WBS And Rehoboam made Abijah the son of Maachah the chief, to be ruler among his brethren: for he thought to make him king. BSB BSB: Rehoboam appointed Abijah son of Maacah as chief prince among his brothers, intending to make him king.
23 WBS And he dealt wisely, and dispersed of all his children throughout all the countries of Judah and Benjamin, to every fortified city: and he gave them provisions in 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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