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And when Rehoboam was come to Jerusalem, he gathered of the house of Judah and Benjamin an hundred and fourscorethousandchosen men, which were warriors* , to fight against Israel, that he might bring the kingdomagain to Rehoboam.
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But the word of the LORD came to Shemaiah the man of God,saying ,
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Speak unto Rehoboam the son of Solomon,king of Judah, and to all Israel in Judah and Benjamin,saying ,
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Thus saith the LORD, Ye shall not go up , nor fight against your brethren:return every man to his house: for this thing is done of me. And they obeyed the words of the LORD, and returned from going against Jeroboam.
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And Rehoboamdwelt in Jerusalem, and builtcities for defence in Judah.
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And Zorah, and Aijalon, and Hebron, which are in Judah and in Benjaminfencedcities.
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And he fortified the strong holds, and putcaptains in them, and store of victual, and of oil and wine.
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And in every several city he put shields and spears, and made them exceeding*strong , having Judah and Benjamin on his side.
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And the priests and the Levites that were in all Israelresorted to him out of all their coasts.
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For the Levitesleft their suburbs and their possession, and came to Judah and Jerusalem: for Jeroboam and his sons had cast them off from executing the priest's office unto the LORD:
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And he ordained him priests for the high places, and for the devils, and for the calves which he had made .
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And after them out of all the tribes of Israel such as set their hearts to seek the LORDGod of Israelcame to Jerusalem, to sacrifice unto the LORDGod of their fathers.
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So they strengthened the kingdom of Judah, and made Rehoboam the son of Solomonstrong , threeyears: for threeyears they walked in the way of David and Solomon.
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And Rehoboamtook him Mahalath the daughter* of Jerimoth the son of David to wife, and Abihail the daughter of Eliab the son of Jesse;
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Which bare him children;Jeush, and Shamariah, and Zaham.
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And after her he tookMaachah the daughter of Absalom; which bare him Abijah, and Attai, and Ziza, and Shelomith.
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And RehoboamlovedMaachah the daughter of Absalom above all his wives and his concubines: (for he tookeighteen*wives, and threescoreconcubines; and begattwenty and eightsons, and threescore daughters.)
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And RehoboammadeAbijah the son of Maachah the chief, to be ruler among his brethren: for he thought to make him king .
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And he dealt wisely , and dispersed of all his children throughout all the countries of Judah and Benjamin, unto every fencedcity: and he gave them victual in abundance. And he desiredmanywives.