Shemaiah’s Prophecy
(1 Kings 12:20–24)

1And whan Roboam came to Ierusalem, he gathered together the house of Iuda and BenIamin (euen an hudreth and foure score thousande chosen men of armes) to fyghte agaynst Israel, that they mighte brynge the kyngdome agayne vnto Roboam. 2But ye worde of the LORDE came to Semaia the man of God, and sayde: 3Speake to Roboam the sonne of Salomon kynge of Iuda, and to all Israel yt are in Iuda and BenIamin, and saye: 4Thus sayeth the LORDE: Ye shal not go vp, ner fyght agaynst youre brethren: let euery man go home agayne, for this is my dede. They herkened vnto the wordes of ye LORDE, and wete not forth agaynst Ieroboa.

Rehoboam Fortifies Judah

5As for Roboa, he dwelt at Ierusalem, and buylded vp the stronge cities in Iuda, 6namely Bethlee, Etan, Tekoa, 7Bethzur, Socho, Adulla, 8Gath, Maresa, Siph, 9Adoraim, Laches, Aseka, 10Zarega, Aialon, and Hebron (which were the fensed cities in Iuda and BenIamin) 11& he made them stronge, and set prynces therin, & prouyded them of vytayles, oyle and wyne, 12and in all cities prepared he shildes and speares, and made them very stronge. And Iuda and BenIamin were vnder him.

Jeroboam Forsakes the Priests and Levites

13The Prestes and Leuites also came vnto him out of Israel and from all the borders therof,

14And lefte their suburbes & possession, and came to Iuda vnto Ierusalem: for Ieroboam and his sonnes expelled them, that they shulde not execute the offyce of ye presthode vnto ye LORDE. 15But for himselfe he fouded prestes to ye hye places, & to feldedeuels & calues, which he caused to make. 16And after them came there men out of all the trybes of Israel, which gaue ouer their hertes to seke ye LORDE God of Israel, & came to Ierusale for to offre vnto the LORDE God of their fathers. 17And so strengthed they ye kingdome of Iuda, and matayned Roboam the sonne of Salomon thre yeare longe: for they walked in ye waye of Dauid & Salomon thre yeares.

Rehoboam’s Family

18And Roboam toke Mahelath ye doughter of Ieremoth ye sonne of Dauid to wife, & Abihail the doughter of Eliab ye sonne of Isai, 19which bare him these sonnes: Ieus, Semaria & Saham. 20After her toke he Maecha the doughter of Absalom, which bare him Abia, Athai Sisa and Selomith. 21But Roboam loued Maecha the doughter of Absalom better then all his wyues & concubynes: for he had eightene wyues and thre score cocubynes, and begat eight & twentye sonnes, and thre score doughters. 22And Roboam set Abia the sonne of Maecha to be heade and prynce amonge his brethren: for he thoughte to make him kynge: 23for he was wyse, & more mightie then all his sonnes in all the countrees of Iuda & Ben Iamin, and in all the stronge cities. And he gaue them plenteousnes of fode, and desyred many wyues.