The Message Bible MSG
King James Version KJV
1 When Rehoboam got back to Jerusalem he called up the men of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin, 180,000 of their best soldiers, to go to war against Israel and recover the kingdom.
1
And when Rehoboam was come to Jerusalem, he gathered of the house of Judah and Benjamin an hundred and fourscore thousand chosen men, which were warriors, to fight against Israel, that he might bring the kingdom again to Rehoboam.
2 At the same time the word of God came to Shemaiah, a holy man,
2
But the word of the LORD came to Shemaiah the man of God, saying,
3 "Tell this to Rehoboam son of Solomon, king of Judah, along with all the Israelites in Judah and Benjamin,
3
Speak unto Rehoboam the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and to all Israel in Judah and Benjamin, saying,
4 This is God's word: Don't march out; don't fight against your brothers the Israelites. Go back home, every last one of you; I'm in charge here." And they did it; they did what God said and went home.
4
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.
5 Rehoboam continued to live in Jerusalem but built up a defense system for Judah all around:
5
And Rehoboam dwelt in Jerusalem, and built cities for defence in Judah.
6 in Bethlehem, Etam, Tekoa,
6
He built even Bethlehem, and Etam, and Tekoa,
7 Beth Zur, Soco, Adullam,
7
And Bethzur, and Shoco, and Adullam,
8 Gath, Mareshah, Ziph,
8
And Gath, and Mareshah, and Ziph,
9 Adoraim, Lachish, Azekah,
9
And Adoraim, and Lachish, and Azekah,
10 Zorah, Aijalon, and Hebron - a line of defense protecting Judah and Benjamin.
10
And Zorah, and Aijalon, and Hebron, which are in Judah and in Benjamin fenced cities.
11 He beefed up the fortifications, appointed commanders, and put in supplies of food, olive oil, and wine.
11
And he fortified the strong holds, and put captains in them, and store of victual, and of oil and wine.
12 He installed arms - large shields and spears - in all the forts, making them very strong. So Judah and Benjamin were secure for the time.
12
And in every several city he put shields and spears, and made them exceeding strong, having Judah and Benjamin on his side.
13 The priests and Levites from all over Israel came and made themselves available to Rehoboam.
13
And the priests and the Levites that were in all Israel resorted to him out of all their coasts.
14 The Levites left their pastures and properties and moved to Judah and Jerusalem because Jeroboam and his sons had dismissed them from the priesthood of God
14
For the Levites left 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:
15 and replaced them with his own priests to preside over the worship centers at which he had installed goat and calf demon-idols.
15
And he ordained him priests for the high places, and for the devils, and for the calves which he had made.
16 Everyone from all the tribes of Israel who determined to seek the God of Israel migrated with the priests and Levites to Jerusalem to worship there, sacrificing to the God of their ancestors.
16
And after them out of all the tribes of Israel such as set their hearts to seek the LORD God of Israel came to Jerusalem, to sacrifice unto the LORD God of their fathers.
17 That gave a tremendous boost to the kingdom of Judah. They stuck with Rehoboam son of Solomon for three years, loyal to the ways of David and Solomon for this period.
17
So they strengthened the kingdom of Judah, and made Rehoboam the son of Solomon strong, three years: for three years they walked in the way of David and Solomon.
18 Rehoboam married Mahalath daughter of Jerimoth, David's son, and Abihail daughter of Eliab, Jesse's son.
18
And Rehoboam took him Mahalath the daughter of Jerimoth the son of David to wife, and Abihail the daughter of Eliab the son of Jesse;
19 Mahalath bore him Jeush, Shemariah, and Zaham.
19
Which bare him children; Jeush, and Shamariah, and Zaham.
20 Then he married Maacah, Absalom's daughter, and she bore him Abijah, Attai, Ziza, and Shelomith.
20
And after her he took Maachah the daughter of Absalom; which bare him Abijah, and Attai, and Ziza, and Shelomith.
21 Maacah was Rehoboam's favorite wife; he loved her more than all his other wives and concubines put together (and he had a lot - eighteen wives and sixty concubines who produced twenty-eight sons and sixty daughters!).
21
And Rehoboam loved Maachah the daughter of Absalom above all his wives and his concubines: (for he took eighteen wives, and threescore concubines; and begat twenty and eight sons, and threescore daughters.)
22 Rehoboam designated Abijah son of Maacah as the "first son" and leader of the brothers - he intended to make him the next king.
22
And Rehoboam made Abijah the son of Maachah the chief, to be ruler among his brethren: for he thought to make him king.
23 He was shrewd in deploying his sons in all the fortress cities that made up his defense system in Judah and Benjamin; he kept them happy with much food and many wives.
23
And he dealt wisely, and dispersed of all his children throughout all the countries of Judah and Benjamin, unto every fenced city: and he gave them victual in abundance. And he desired many wives.
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.
The King James Version is in the public domain.