2 Chronicles

Covers Solomon's reign and the kingdom of Judah's history, emphasizing faithfulness to God.

Chapter 11

1 And when Rehoboam was come to Jerusalem, he gathered of the house of Judah and Benjamin an hundred and fourscore thousand chosen men, which were warriors, to fight against Israel, that he might bring the kingdom again to Rehoboam.

*When Rehoboam arrived in Jerusalem, he gathered 140,000 strong warrior men from the tribes of Judah and Benjamin to fight against Israel. He wanted to restore the kingdom for Rehoboam.

2 But the word of the LORD came to Shemaiah the man of God, saying,

*But God's message reached Shemaiah, a man of God, saying,

3 Speak unto Rehoboam the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and to all Israel in Judah and Benjamin, saying,

*Tell Rehoboam, Solomon's son and king of Judah, and all the people in Judah and Benjamin, who are part of Israel, to listen.

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 of me. And they obeyed the words of the LORD, and returned from going against Jeroboam.

*So God says, "Don't go fight your family, and each person go back home. I planned this." They followed God's instructions and stopped fighting against Jeroboam's people.

5 And Rehoboam dwelt in Jerusalem, and built cities for defence in Judah.

*Rehoboam lived in Jerusalem and constructed defensive cities in the area of Judah.

6 He built even Bethlehem, and Etam, and Tekoa,

*He constructed Bethlehem, Etam, and Tekoa as well.

7 And Bethzur, and Shoco, and Adullam,

*And Bethzur, Shoco, and Adullam.

8 And Gath, and Mareshah, and Ziph,

*And Gath, and Mareshah, and Ziph.

9 And Adoraim, and Lachish, and Azekah,

*And Adoraim, and Lachish, and Azekah - these are place names, so they remain the same.

10 And Zorah, and Aijalon, and Hebron, which are in Judah and in Benjamin fenced cities.

*And Zorah, Aijalon, and Hebron are fortified towns in Judah and Benjamin.

11 And he fortified the strong holds, and put captains in them, and store of victual, and of oil and wine.

*He strengthened the fortresses, appointed leaders there, and provided food, as well as 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.

*In each major city, he placed defenses like shields and spears, making them very strong. He had Judah and Benjamin supporting him.

13 And the priests and the Levites that were in all Israel resorted to him out of all their coasts.

*The priests and Levites from across Israel came to him, traveling from all their areas.

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 unto the LORD:

*The Levites, who lived in the outskirts, gave up their land and went to Judah and Jerusalem. This happened because Jeroboam and his sons stopped them from doing their priest jobs for God.

15 And he ordained him priests for the high places, and for the devils, and for the calves which he had made.

*He appointed priests for the high places, for demons, and for the calf idols he had created.

16 And after them out of all the tribes of Israel such as set their hearts to seek the LORD God of Israel came to Jerusalem, to sacrifice unto the LORD God of their fathers.

*After that, people from all over Israel who truly wanted to find and follow the God of Israel came to Jerusalem to offer sacrifices to the God of their ancestors.

17 So they strengthened the kingdom of Judah, and made Rehoboam the son of Solomon strong, three years: for three years they walked in the way of David and Solomon.

*They increased the power of Judah's kingdom and supported Rehoboam, of Solomon, for three years. During this time, they followed the ways of David and Solomon.

18 And Rehoboam took him Mahalath the daughter of Jerimoth the son of David to wife, and Abihail the daughter of Eliab the son of Jesse;

*Rehoboam married Mahalath, daughter of Jerimoth, who was David's son, and also Abihail, daughter of Eliab, who was Jesse's son.

19 Which bare him children; Jeush, and Shamariah, and Zaham.

*Which had children; Jeush, Shamariah, and Zaham.

20 And after her he took Maachah the daughter of Absalom; which bare him Abijah, and Attai, and Ziza, and Shelomith.

*Then he married Maachah, Absalom's daughter, who had his children: Abijah, Attai, Ziza, and Shelomith.

21 And Rehoboam loved Maachah the daughter of Absalom above all his wives and his concubines: (for he took eighteen wives, and threescore concubines; and begat twenty and eight sons, and threescore daughters.)

*Rehoboam really liked Maachah, who was Absalom's daughter, more than any of his other wives or girlfriends. He had 18 wives and 60 girlfriends, and they had 28 sons and 60 daughters together.

22 And Rehoboam made Abijah the son of Maachah the chief, to be ruler among his brethren: for he thought to make him king.

*Rehoboam chose Abijah, son of Maachah, as a leader among his siblings because he wanted him to become king.

23 And he dealt wisely, and dispersed of all his children throughout all the countries of Judah and Benjamin, unto every fenced city: and he gave them victual in abundance. And he desired many wives.

*He was smart and placed his children in cities across Judah and Benjamin. He provided them with plenty of food. He also wanted to have many wives.

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