Shemaiah’s Prophecy
(1 Kings 12:20–24)

1And when Rehoboam was come to Hierusalem, he gathered of the house of Iuda and Beniamin, nine score thousand chosen men of warre, to fight against Israel, & to bring the kingdome againe to Rehoboam. 2And the worde of the Lorde came to Semiahu the man of God, saying: 3Speake vnto Rehoboam the sonne of Solomon king of Iuda, & to all them of Israel that are in Iuda and Beniamin, and say: 4Thus saith the Lord, Ye shall not go vp nor fight against your brethren: returne euery man to his house, for this thing is done of me. And they obeyed the wordes of the Lorde, and returned from going against Ieroboam.

Rehoboam Fortifies Judah

5And Rehoboam dwelt in Hierusalem, and built strong cities in Iuda. 6He built vp Bethlehem, & Etam, and Thekoa, 7Bethzur, Socho, and Adullam, 8Gath, and Maresa, and Ziph, 9Adurahim, Lachis, and Azecah, 10Zoraa, Aialon, and Hebron, which is in Iuda and Beniamin, strong cities. 11And he repaired the strong holdes, and put captaynes in them, and store of vittaile, and wine, and oyle: 12And in all cities he put shieldes and speares, & made them exceeding strong, hauing Iuda and Beniamin on his syde.

Jeroboam Forsakes the Priests and Levites

13And the priestes and the Leuites that were in all Israel, resorted to him out of all their coastes.

14For the Leuites left their suburbes, and their possession, and came to Iuda and Hierusalem: For Ieroboam and his sonnes had cast them out from ministring vnto the Lorde. 15And he ordayned him priestes for the high places, for the deuils, and for the calues which he had made. 16And after the Leuites, there went out all the tribes of Israel, such as submitted their heartes to seeke the Lord God of Israel, and came to Hierusalem to offer vnto the Lorde God of their fathers. 17And so they strengthed the kingdome of Iuda, & made Rehoboam the sonne of Solomon mightie three yeres long: for three yeres they walked in the way of Dauid and Solomon.

Rehoboam’s Family

18And Rehoboam toke him Mahalath the daughter of Ierimoth the sonne of Dauid to wyfe, and Abihail the daughter of Eliab the sonne of Isai. 19Which bare him children, Ieus, Samaria, and Zaham. 20And after her he toke Maacha the daughter of Absolon, which bare him Abia, Atthai, Ziza, and Selomith. 21And Rehoboam loued Maacha the daughter of Absolo aboue al his wyues and concubines: for he toke eyghteene wyues and threescore concubines, and begat twentie and eyght sonnes & threescore daughters. 22And Rehoboam made Abia the sonne of Maacha, the chiefe ruler among his brethren: for he thought to make him king. 23And he played wyselie, and scattered all his children throughout al the countryes of Iuda and Beniamin vnto euery strong citie, and he gaue them aboundaunce of vittaile, and obtayned many wyues.