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The Second Book of the Chronicles

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- Kapitel 11 -

(1 Kings 12:20–24)
1
Then Rehoboam went to Jerusalem, and he called together the entire house of Judah and of Benjamin, one hundred eighty thousand elect men of war, so that he might contend against Israel, and turn back his kingdom to himself.
2
And the word of the Lord came to Shemaiah, the man of God, saying:
3
“Speak to Rehoboam, the son of Solomon, the king of Judah, and to all of Israel who are of Judah, or of Benjamin:
4
Thus says the Lord: You shall not ascend and fight against your brothers. Let each one return to his own house. For it is by my will that this has happened.” And when they had heard the word of the Lord, they turned back, and they did not continue on against Jeroboam.

Rehoboam Fortifies Judah

5
Then Rehoboam lived in Jerusalem, and he built fortified cities in Judah.
6
And he built up Bethlehem, and Etam, and Tekoa,
7
and also Bethzur, and Soco, and Adullam,
8
indeed also Gath, and Mareshah, and Ziph,
9
then too Adoram, and Lachish, and Azekah,
10
as well as Zorah, and Aijalon, and Hebron, which were very fortified cities in Judah and in Benjamin.
11
And when he had enclosed them with walls, he placed in them rulers, and storehouses of provisions, that is, of oil and wine.
12
Moreover, in each city he made an armory of shields and spears, and he strengthened them with the utmost diligence. And he ruled over Judah and Benjamin.

Jeroboam Forsakes the Priests and Levites

13
Then the priests and Levites, who were in all of Israel, came to him from all their settlements,
14
leaving behind their suburbs and possessions, and crossing over to Judah and to Jerusalem. For Jeroboam and his followers had cast them out, so that they could not exercise the priestly office to the Lord.
15
And he appointed for himself priests of high places, and of demons, and of calves that he had made.
16
Moreover, out of all the tribes of Israel, whosoever would give their heart so that they sought the Lord God of Israel, they went to Jerusalem to immolate their victims before the Lord, the God of their fathers.
17
And they strengthened the kingdom of Judah, and they confirmed Rehoboam, the son of Solomon, for three years. For they walked in the ways of David and of Solomon, but only for three years.

Rehoboam’s Family

18
Then Rehoboam took as wife Mahalath, the daughter of Jerimoth, son of David, and also Abihail, the daughter of Eliab, son of Jesse.
19
They bore sons for him: Jeush, and Shemariah, and Zaham.
20
And also after her, he married Maacah, the daughter of Absalom, who bore for him Abijah, and Attai, and Ziza, and Shelomith.
21
But Rehoboam loved Maacah, the daughter of Absalom, above all his wives and concubines. For he had taken eighteen wives and sixty concubines. And he conceived twenty-eight sons and sixty daughters.
22
Truly, he appointed as the head, Abijah, the son of Maacah, to be the ruler over all his brothers. For he thought to make him king,
23
since he was wiser and more powerful than all his sons, even in all the regions of Judah and Benjamin, and in all the fortified cities. And he provided them with very much food, and he sought many wives.
(1 Kings 12:20–24)
1
When Rehoboam had come to Jerusalem, he assembled the house of Judah and Benjamin, one hundred eighty thousand chosen men who were warriors, to fight against Israel, to bring the kingdom again to Rehoboam.
2
But the LORD’s word came to Shemaiah the man of God, saying,
3
“Speak to Rehoboam the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and to all Israel in Judah and Benjamin, saying,
4
The LORD says, “You shall not go up, nor fight against your brothers! Every man return to his house; for this thing is of me.”’” So they listened to the LORD’s words, and returned from going against Jeroboam.

Rehoboam Fortifies Judah

5
Rehoboam lived in Jerusalem, and built cities for defense in Judah.
6
He built Bethlehem, Etam, Tekoa,
7
Beth Zur, Soco, Adullam,
8
Gath, Mareshah, Ziph,
9
Adoraim, Lachish, Azekah,
10
Zorah, Aijalon, and Hebron, which are fortified cities in Judah and in Benjamin.
11
He fortified the strongholds and put captains in them with stores of food, oil and wine.
12
He put shields and spears in every city, and made them exceedingly strong. Judah and Benjamin belonged to him.

Jeroboam Forsakes the Priests and Levites

13
The priests and the Levites who were in all Israel stood with him out of all their territory.
14
For the Levites left their pasture lands and their possessions, and came to Judah and Jerusalem; for Jeroboam and his sons cast them off, that they should not execute the priest’s office to the LORD.
15
He himself appointed priests for the high places, for the male goat and calf idols which he had made.
16
After them, out of all the tribes of Israel, those who set their hearts to seek the LORD, the God of Israel, came to Jerusalem to sacrifice to the LORD, the God of their fathers.
17
So they strengthened the kingdom of Judah and made Rehoboam the son of Solomon strong for three years, for they walked three years in the way of David and Solomon.

Rehoboam’s Family

18
Rehoboam took a wife for himself, Mahalath the daughter of Jerimoth the son of David and of Abihail the daughter of Eliab the son of Jesse.
19
She bore him sons: Jeush, Shemariah, and Zaham.
20
After her, he took Maacah the granddaughter of Absalom; and she bore him Abijah, Attai, Ziza, and Shelomith.
21
Rehoboam loved Maacah the granddaughter of Absalom 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
Rehoboam appointed Abijah 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 some of his sons throughout all the lands of Judah and Benjamin, to every fortified city. He gave them food in abundance; and he sought many wives for them.