1. And when Rehoboam was come to Jerusalem, he assembled the house of Judah and Benjamin, an hundred and fourscore thousand chosen men, which were warriors, to fight against Israel, to bring the kingdom again to Rehoboam.
2. But the word of the LORD came to Shemaiah the man of God, saying,
3. Speak unto Rehoboam the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and to all Israel in Judah and Benjamin, saying,
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 of me. So they hearkened unto the words of the LORD, and returned from going against Jeroboam.
5. And Rehoboam dwelt in Jerusalem, and built cities for defence in Judah.
6. He built even Beth-lehem, and Etam, and Tekoa,
7. And Beth-zur, and Soco, and Adullam,
8. and Gath, and Mareshah, and Ziph,
9. and Adoraim, and Lachish, and Azekah,
10. and Zorah, and Aijalon, and Hebron, which are in Judah and in Benjamin, fenced cities.
11. And he fortified the strong holds, and put captains in them, and store of victual, and oil and wine.
12. And in every several city he put shields and spears, and made them exceeding strong. And Judah and Benjamin belonged to him.
13. And the priests and the Levites that were in all Israel resorted to him out of all their border.
14. For the Levites left their suburbs and their possession, and came to Judah and Jerusalem: for Jeroboam and his sons cast them off, that they should not execute the priest's office unto the LORD: