1. When Rehoboam arrived in Jerusalem, he mustered Judah and Benjamin – a hundred and eighty thousand able young men – to go to war against Israel and to regain the kingdom for Rehoboam.
2. But this word of the Lord came to Shemaiah the man of God:
3. ‘Say to Rehoboam son of Solomon king of Judah and to all Israel in Judah and Benjamin,
4. “This is what the Lord says: do not go up to fight against your fellow Israelites. Go home, every one of you, for this is my doing.” ’ So they obeyed the words of the Lord and turned back from marching against Jeroboam.
5. Rehoboam lived in Jerusalem and built up towns for defence in Judah:
6. Bethlehem, Etam, Tekoa,
7. Beth Zur, Soko, Adullam,
8. Gath, Mareshah, Ziph,