14
For the Levites left their suburbs and their possession, and came to Yehudah and Yerushalayim: for Yarov`am and his sons cast them off, that they should not execute the Kohen's office to the LORD;
15
and he appointed him Kohanim for the high places, and for the male goats, and for the calves which he had made.
16
After them, out of all the tribes of Yisra'el, such as set their hearts to seek the LORD, the God of Yisra'el, came to Yerushalayim to sacrifice to the LORD, the God of their fathers.
17
So they strengthened the kingdom of Yehudah, and made Rechav`am the son of Shlomo strong, three years; for they walked three years in the way of David and Shlomo.
18
Rechav`am took him a wife, Machalat the daughter of Yerimot the son of David, [and of] Avichayil the daughter of Eli'av the son of Yishai;
19
and she bore him sons: Ye`ush, and Shemaryahu, and Zaham.
20
After her he took Ma`akhah the daughter of Avshalom; and she bore him Aviyah, and `Attai, and Ziza, and Shelomit.
21
Rechav`am loved Ma`akhah the daughter of Avshalom 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
Rechav`am appointed Aviyah the son of Ma`akhah to be chief, [even] the prince among his brothers; for [he was minded] to make him king.
23
He dealt wisely, and dispersed of all his sons throughout all the lands of Yehudah and Binyamin, to every fortified city: and he gave them victuals in abundance. He sought [for them] many wives.