And when Rehoboamwas cometo Jerusalem, he gatheredof the houseof Judahand Benjamina hundredand fourscorethousandchosen men , which were warriors, to fightagainstIsrael, that he might bringthe kingdomagain to Rehoboam. But the wordof the LORDcametoShemaiahthe manof God, saying, SpeakuntoRehoboamthe sonof Solomon, kingof Judah, and toallIsraelin Judahand Benjamin, saying, Thussaiththe LORD, Ye shall notgo up, norfightagainstyour brethren: returnevery manto his house: forthisthingis doneofme. And they obeyedthe wordsof the LORD, and returnedfrom goingagainstJeroboam. And Rehoboamdweltin Jerusalem, and builtcitiesfor defensein Judah. He builteven Bethlehem, and Etam, and Tekoa, And Beth-zur, and Shoco, and Adullam, And Gath, and Mareshah, and Ziph, And Adoraim, and Lachish, and Azekah, And Zorah, and Aijalon, and Hebron, which are in Judahand in Benjaminfencedcities. And he fortifiedthe strongholds, and putcaptainsin them, and storeof victual, and of oiland wine. And in everyseveral city he put shieldsand spears, and made them exceeding strong, havingJudahand Benjaminon his side. And the priestsand the Levitesthat were in allIsraelresortedtohim out of alltheir coasts. Forthe Leviteslefttheir suburbsand their possession, and cameto Judahand Jerusalem: forJeroboamand his sonshad cast them offfrom executing the priest's officeunto the LORD: And he ordainedhim priestsfor the high places, and for the devils, and for the calveswhichhe had made. And afterthem out of allthe tribesof Israelsuch as settheir heartsto seekthe LORDGodof Israelcameto Jerusalem, to sacrificeunto the LORDGodof their fathers. So they strengthenedthe kingdomof Judah, and made Rehoboamthe sonof Solomonstrong, threeyears: forthreeyearsthey walkedin the wayof Davidand Solomon. And Rehoboamtookhim Mahalaththe daughterof Jerimoththe sonof Davidto wife, and Abihailthe daughterof Eliabthe sonof Jesse; Which borehim children; Jeush, and Shamariah, and Zaham. And afterher he tookMaachahthe daughterof Absalom; which borehim Abijah, and Attai, and Ziza, and Shelomith. And RehoboamlovedMaachahthe daughterof Absalomabove allhis wivesand his concubines: ( forhe tookeighteenwives, and threescoreconcubines; and begottwentyand eightsons, and threescoredaughters.) And RehoboammadeAbijahthe sonof Maachahthe chief, to be ruleramong his brethren: for he thought to make him king. And he dealt wisely, and dispersedof allhis childrenthroughout allthe countriesof Judahand Benjamin, unto everyfencedcity: and he gavethem victualin abundance. And he desiredmanywives.