1 When Rehoboam came to Jerusalem, he gathered the people of Judah and Benjamin, 180,000 of the best soldiers, to fight against Israel and return the kingdom to Rehoboam.
2 But God spoke his word to Shemaiah, the man of God. He said,
3 “Speak to Judah’s King Rehoboam, son of Solomon, and all Israel in Judah and Benjamin.
4 This is what the Lord says: Don’t wage war against your relatives. Everyone, go home. What has happened is my doing.” So they obeyed the word of the Lord. They turned back from their attack on Jer o boam.
5 Rehoboam lived in Jerusalem and built fortified cities in Judah.
6 He rebuilt Bethlehem, Etam, Tekoa,
7 Beth Zur, Soco, Adullam,