Chapter 11

1. And when Re-ho-bo-am 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.
2. But the word of the LORD came to Shem-ai-ah the man of God, saying,
3. Speak unto Re-ho-bo-am 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 of me. And they obeyed the words of the LORD, and returned from going against Jer-o-bo-am.
5. And Re-ho-bo-am dwelt in Jerusalem, and built cities for defence in Judah.
6. He built even Beth-lehem, and Etam, and Te-ko-a,
7. And Beth-zur, and Sho-co, and A-dul-lam,
8. And Gath, and Ma-re-shah, and Ziph,
9. And Ad-o-ra-im, and La-chish, and A-ze-kah,
10. And Zorah, and Ai-ja-lon, and Hebron, which are in Judah and in Benjamin fenced cities.
11. And he fortified the strong holds, and put captains in them, and store of victual, 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 out of all their coasts.
14. For the Levites left their suburbs and their possession, and came to Judah and Jerusalem: for Jer-o-bo-am and his sons had cast them off from executing the priest's office unto the LORD:
15. And he ordained him priests for the high places, and for the devils, and for the calves which he had made.
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.
17. So they strengthened the kingdom of Judah, and made Re-ho-bo-am the son of Solomon strong, three years: for three years they walked in the way of David and Solomon.
18. And Re-ho-bo-am took him Ma-ha-lath the daughter of Jer-i-moth the son of David to wife, and Ab-i-hail the daughter of E-li-ab the son of Jesse;
19. Which bare him children; Je-ush, and Sham-a-ri-ah, and Zaham.
20. And after her he took Ma-a-chah the daughter of Absalom; which bare him A-bi-jah, and At-ta-i, and Ziza, and She-lo-mith.
21. And Re-ho-bo-am loved Ma-a-chah 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.)
22. And Re-ho-bo-am made A-bi-jah the son of Ma-a-chah the chief, to be ruler among his brethren: for he thought to make him 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.

May 30 Daily reading schedule.. go to chapter 12