13
Moreover, the priests and the Leviteswho were in allIsraelstood with him from all their districts.
Jeroboam Appoints False Priests
14 For 1the Levitesleft their pasturelands and their property and came to Judah and Jerusalem, for 2Jeroboam and his sons had excluded them from serving as priests to the LORD.
15
3He set up priests of his own for the highplaces, for the satyrs and for the calveswhich he had made.
16
4Those from all the tribes of Israel who set their hearts on seeking the LORDGod of Israelfollowed them to Jerusalem, to sacrifice to the LORDGod of their fathers.
17
5They strengthened the kingdom of Judah and supportedRehoboam the son of Solomon for threeyears, for they walked in the way of David and Solomon for threeyears.
Rehoboam's Family
18 Then Rehoboamtook as a wifeMahalath the daughter of Jerimoth the son of David and of Abihail the daughter of 6Eliab the son of Jesse,
19
and she bore him sons: Jeush, Shemariah and Zaham.
20
After her he took7Maacah the daughter of Absalom, and she bore him Abijah, Attai, Ziza and Shelomith.
21
RehoboamlovedMaacah the daughter of Absalommorethanall his other wives and concubines. For 8he had takeneighteen*wives and sixtyconcubines and fatheredtwenty-eight*sons and sixtydaughters.
22
9RehoboamappointedAbijah the son of Maacah as head and leader among his brothers, for he intended to make him king.
23
He actedwisely and distributedsome of his sonsthroughall the territories of Judah and Benjamin to all the fortifiedcities, and he gave them food in abundance. And he soughtmanywives for them.