17. And they strengthened the reign of Yehuḏah, and made Reḥaḇ‛am son of Shelomoh strong for three years, for they walked in the way of Dawiḏ and Shelomoh for three years.
18. And Reḥaḇ‛am took for himself as wife Maḥalath the daughter of Yerimoth son of Dawiḏ, and of Aḇiḥayil the daughter of Eliyaḇ son of Yishai.
19. And she bore him sons: Ye‛ush, and Shemaryah, and Zaham.
20. And after her he took Ma‛aḵah the granddaughter of Aḇshalom. And she bore him Aḇiyah, and Attai, and Ziza, and Shelomith.
21. And Reḥaḇ‛am loved Ma‛aḵah the granddaughter of Aḇshalom more than all his wives and his concubines. For he had taken eighteen wives and sixty concubines, and brought forth twenty-eight sons and sixty daughters.
22. And Reḥaḇ‛am appointed Aḇiyah son of Ma‛aḵah as chief, to be leader among his brothers, in order to make him reign.
23. And he had understanding, and dispersed some of his sons throughout all the lands of Yehuḏah and Binyamin, to all the cities of defence, and gave them ample provision. And he sought many wives for them.