2 Chronicles 11:1-14 ▼

1 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 But the word of the LORD came to Shemaiah the man of God:

3 “Tell Rehoboam son of Solomon king of Judah and all the Israelites in Judah and Benjamin

4 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 word is from Me.’ ” So they listened to the words of the LORD and turned back from going against Jeroboam.

5 Rehoboam continued to live in Jerusalem, and he built up cities for defense in Judah.

6 He built up Bethlehem, Etam, Tekoa,

7 Beth-zur, Soco, Adullam,

8 Gath, Mareshah, Ziph,

9 Adoraim, Lachish, Azekah,

10 Zorah, Aijalon, and Hebron, the fortified cities in Judah and Benjamin.

11 He strengthened their fortresses and put officers in them, with supplies of food, oil, and wine.

12 He also put shields and spears in all the cities and strengthened them greatly. So Judah and Benjamin belonged to him.

13 Moreover, the priests and Levites from all their districts throughout Israel stood with Rehoboam.

14 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.