17. They strengthened the kingdom of Judah and supported Rehoboam son of Solomon for three years, following the ways of David and Solomon during this time.
18. Rehoboam married Mahalath, who was the daughter of David’s son Jerimoth and of Abihail, the daughter of Jesse’s son Eliab.
19. She bore him sons: Jeush, Shemariah and Zaham.
20. Then he married Maakah daughter of Absalom, who bore him Abijah, Attai, Ziza and Shelomith.
21. Rehoboam loved Maakah daughter of Absalom more than any of his other wives and concubines. In all, he had eighteen wives and sixty concubines, twenty-eight sons and sixty daughters.
22. Rehoboam appointed Abijah son of Maakah as crown prince among his brothers, in order to make him king.
23. He acted wisely, dispersing some of his sons throughout the districts of Judah and Benjamin, and to all the fortified cities. He gave them abundant provisions and took many wives for them.