1. And when Rehoboam had come to Jerusalem, he gathered of the house of Judah and Benjamin a hundred and eighty thousand chosen men who were warriors, to fight against Israel, that he might bring the kingdom again 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 saith the LORD, Ye shall not go up, nor fight against your brethren: return every man to his house: for this thing is done by me. And they obeyed the words of the LORD, and returned from going against Jeroboam.
5. And Rehoboam dwelt in Jerusalem, and built cities for defense in Judah.
6. He built even Beth-lehem, and Etam, and Tekoa,
7. And Beth-zur, and Shocho, and Adullam,
8. And Gath, and Mareshah, and Ziph,
9. And Adoraim, and Lachish, and Azekah,
10. And Zorah, and Ajalon, and Hebron, which are in Judah and in Benjamin, fortified cities.
11. And he fortified the strong holds, and put captains in them, and store of provisions, and of oil and wine.
12. And in every several city he put shields and spears, and made them exceeding strong, having Judah and Benjamin on his side.
13. And the priests and the Levites that were in all Israel resorted to him from all their borders.
14. For the Levites left their suburbs and their possession, and came to Judah and Jerusalem: for Jeroboam and his sons had cast them off from executing the priest's office to the LORD:
15. And he ordained him priests for the high places, and for the devils, and for the calves which he had made.