1. Now when Rehoboam had come to Jerusalem, he assembled the house of Judah and Benjamin, 180,000 chosen men who were warriors, to fight against Israel to restore the kingdom to Rehoboam.
2. But the word of the Lord came to Shemaiah the man of God, saying,
3. "Speak to Rehoboam the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and to all Israel in Judah and Benjamin, saying,
4. 'Thus says the Lord, "You shall not go up or fight against your relatives; return every man to his house, for this thing is from Me."'" So they listened to the words of the Lord and returned from going against Jeroboam.
5. Rehoboam lived in Jerusalem and built cities for defense in Judah.
6. Thus he built Bethlehem, Etam, Tekoa,
7. Beth-zur, Soco, Adullam,
8. Gath, Mareshah, Ziph,
9. Adoraim, Lachish, Azekah,
10. Zorah, Aijalon and Hebron, which are fortified cities in Judah and in Benjamin.
11. He also strengthened the fortresses and put officers in them and stores of food, oil and wine.
12. He put shields and spears in every city and strengthened them greatly. So he held Judah and Benjamin.
13. Moreover, the priests and the Levites who were in all Israel stood with him from all their districts.
14. For the Levites left their pasture lands and their property and came to Judah and Jerusalem, for Jeroboam and his sons had excluded them from serving as priests to the Lord.
15. He set up priests of his own for the high places, for the satyrs and for the calves which he had made.