Roboam Fortifies Juda

2 Chronicles 11

Roboam is stopped from warring against Israel by the word of the Lord through Samaias the man of God, so instead he builds and fortifies cities throughout Juda, receives the priests and Levites who leave Jeroboam's kingdom, and takes many wives, begetting numerous sons and daughters.

About these editions

The Septuagint (LXX) in Greek, with Charles Thomson’s 1808 and Sir Lancelot Brenton’s 1851 English translations, set beside the King James Version and the Jewish Masoretic text (JPS 1917) where they align, so you can compare the Greek and the Hebrew. All public domain; choose which to show with the controls above.

Thomson 1808Septuagint

Brenton 1851Septuagint

Greek · BrentonSeptuagint

KJV 1769Masoretic

JPS 1917Masoretic

ThomsonNOW when Roboam came to Jerusalem and had assembled of Juda and Benjamin, a hundred and eighty thousand of the young men who were warriors, and was going to war with Israel, to restore the kingdom to Roboam;

BrentonAnd Roboam came to Jerusalem; and he assembled Juda and Benjamin, a hundred and eighty thousand young men fit for war, and he waged war with Israel to recover the kingdom to Roboam.

GreekΚαὶ ἦλθε Ῥοβοὰμ εἰς Ἱερουσαλὴμ, καὶ ἐξεκκλησίασε τὸν Ἰούδαν καὶ Βενιαμὶν ἑκατὸν ὀγδοήκοντα χιλιάδας νεανίσκων ποιούντων πόλεμον, καὶ ἐπολέμει πρὸς Ἰσραὴλ τοῦ ἐπιστρέψαι τὴν βασιλείαν τῷ Ῥοβοάμ.

KJVAnd 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.

JPSAnd when Rehoboam was come to Jerusalem, he assembled the house of Judah and Benjamin, a hundred and fourscore thousand chosen men, that were warriors, to fight against Israel, to bring the kingdom back to Rehoboam.

Thomsona word of the Lord came to Samaias, a man of God, saying,

BrentonAnd the word of the Lord came to Samaias the man of God, saying,

GreekΚαὶ ἐγένετο λόγος Κυρίου πρὸς Σαμαίαν ἄνθρωπον τοῦ Θεοῦ, λέγων,

KJVBut the word of the LORD came to Shemaiah the man of God, saying,

JPSBut the word of the LORD came to Shemaiah the man of God, saying:

ThomsonSpeak to Roboam son of Solomon, and to all Juda and Benjamin, and say,

BrentonSpeak to Roboam the son of Solomon, and to all Juda and Benjamin, saying,

Greekεἶπον πρὸς Ῥοβοὰμ τὸν τοῦ Σαλωμὼν καὶ πάντα Ἰούδαν καὶ Βενιαμὶν, λέγων,

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

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

ThomsonThus saith the Lord, You shall not go up nor fight with your brethren. Return every man to his house, for this thing is done by Me. So they hearkened to the word of the Lord, and did not go up against Jeroboam.

BrentonThus saith the Lord, Ye shall not go up, and ye shall not war against your brethren: return every one to his home; for this thing is of me. And they hearkened to the word of the Lord, and returned from going against Jeroboam.

Greekτάδε λέγει Κύριος, οὐκ ἀναβήσεσθε, καὶ οὐ πολεμήσεσθε πρὸς τοὺς ἀδελφοὺς ὑμῶν· ἀποστρέφετε ἕκαστος εἰς τὸν οἶκον αὐτοῦ, ὅτι παρʼ ἐμοῦ ἐγένετο τὸ ῥῆμα τοῦτο· καὶ ἐπήκουσαν τοῦ λόγου Κυρίου, καὶ ἀπεστράφησαν τοῦ μὴ πορευθῆναι ἐπὶ Ἱεροβοάμ.

KJVThus 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.

JPSThus saith the LORD: Ye shall not go up, nor fight against your brethren; return every man to his house, for this thing is of Me.’ So they hearkened unto the words of the LORD, and returned from going against Jeroboam.

ThomsonAnd Roboam dwelt at Jerusalem and built walled cities in Judea.

BrentonAnd Roboam dwelt in Jerusalem, and he built walled cities in Judæa.

GreekΚαὶ κατῴκησε Ῥοβοὰμ εἰς Ἱερουσαλὴμ, καὶ ᾠκοδόμησε πόλεις τειχήρεις ἐν τῇ Ἰουδαίᾳ.

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

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

Thomson—

BrentonAnd he built Bethleem, and Ætan and Thecoe,

GreekΚαὶ ᾠκοδόμησε τὴν Βηθλεὲμ, καὶ Αἰτὰν, καὶ Θεκωὲ,

KJV—

JPS—

Thomsonand Bathsura and Socchoth and Odollam

Brentonand Bæthsura, and Sochoth, and Odollam,

Greekκαὶ Βαιθσουρὰ, καὶ τὴν Σοχὼθ, καὶ τὴν Ὀδολλὰμ,

KJV—

JPS—

Thomsonand Geth and Marisa and Ziph

Brentonand Geth, and Marisa, and Ziph,

Greekκαὶ τὴν Γὲθ, καὶ τὴν Μαρισὰν, καὶ τὴν Ζὶφ,

KJVAnd Gath, and Mareshah, and Ziph,

JPSand Gath, and Mareshah, and Ziph,

Thomsonand Adorai and Lachis and Azeka

Brentonand Adorai, and Lachis, and Azeca,

Greekκαὶ τὴν Ἀδωραὶ, καὶ Λαχὶς, καὶ τὴν Ἀζηκά,

KJV—

JPS—

Thomsonand Saraa and Ailom and Chebron, walled cities of Juda and Benjamin.

Brentonand Saraa, and Ælom, and Chebron, which belongs to Juda and Benjamin, walled cities.

Greekκαὶ τὴν Σαραὰ, καὶ τὴν Αἰλὼμ, καὶ τὴν Χεβρὼν, ἥ ἐστι τοῦ Ἰούδα καὶ Βενιαμὶν, πόλεις τειχήρεις.

KJV—

JPS—

ThomsonAnd when he had strengthened them with walls, he appointed governors in them, with stores of provisions, oil and wine.

BrentonAnd he fortified them with walls, and placed in them captains, and stores of provisions, oil and wine,

GreekΚαὶ ὠχύρωσεν αὐτὰς τειχήρεις, καὶ ἔδωκεν ἐν αὐταῖς ἡγουμένους, καὶ παραθέσεις βρωμάτων, ἔλαιον καὶ οἶνον,

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

JPSAnd he fortified the strongholds, and put captains in them, and store of victual, and oil and wine.

ThomsonAnd in every city he put shields and spears, and made them very strong.

Brentonshields and spears in every several city, and he fortified them very strongly, and he had on his side Juda and Benjamin.

Greekκατὰ πόλιν καὶ κατὰ πόλιν θυρεοὺς καὶ δόρατα, καὶ κατίσχυσεν αὐτὰς εἰς πλῆθος σφόδρα· καὶ ἦσαν αὐτῷ Ἰούδα καὶ Βενιαμίν.

KJVAnd in every several city he put shields and spears, and made them exceeding strong, having Judah and Benjamin on his side.

JPSAnd in every city he put shields and spears, and made them exceeding strong. And Judah and Benjamin adhered to him.

ThomsonNow there were with him Juda and Benjamin. And the priests and the Levites who were in all Israel, resorted to him, from all their borders.

BrentonAnd the priests and the Levites who were in all Israel were gathered to him out of all the coasts.

GreekΚαὶ οἱ ἱερεῖς καὶ οἱ Λευῖται οἳ ἦσαν ἐν παντὶ Ἰσραὴλ συνήχθησαν πρὸς αὐτὸν ἐκ πάντων τῶν ὁρίων·

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

JPSAnd the priests and the Levites that were in all Israel presented themselves to him out of all their border.

ThomsonFor the Levites left the habitations of their possession and went to Juda to Jerusalem; for Jeroboam and his sons cast them out from ministering to the Lord,

BrentonFor the Levites left the tents of their possession, and went to Juda to Jerusalem, because Jeroboam and his sons had ejected them so that they should not minister to the Lord.

GreekὍτι ἐγκατέλιπον οἱ Λευῖται τὰ σκηνώματα τῆς κατασχέσεως αὐτῶν, καὶ ἐπορεύθησαν πρὸς Ἰούδα εἰς Ἱερουσαλὴμ, ὅτι ἐξέβαλεν αὐτοὺς Ἱεροβοὰμ καὶ οἱ υἱοὶ αὐτοῦ μὴ λειτουργεῖν Κυρίῳ,

KJVFor 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:

JPSFor the Levites left their open land and their possession, and came to Judah and Jerusalem; for Jeroboam and his sons cast them off, that they should not execute the priest’s office unto the LORD;

Thomsonand made for himself priests of the high places for the idols, and the vanities and the calves which Jeroboam made.

BrentonAnd he made for himself priests of the high places, and for the idols, and for the vanities, and for the calves which Jeroboam made.

Greekκαὶ κατέστησεν ἑαυτῷ ἱερεῖς τῶν ὑψηλῶν καὶ τοῖς εἰδώλοις καὶ τοῖς ματαίοις καὶ τοῖς μόσχοις, ἃ ἐποίησεν Ἱεροβοάμ.

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

JPSand he appointed him priests for the high places, and for the satyrs, and for the calves which he had made.

ThomsonHe expelled also from among the tribes of Israel them who set their hearts to seek the Lord God of Israel, and they came to Jerusalem to sacrifice to the Lord God of their fathers, and strengthened the kingdom of Juda.

BrentonAnd he cast out from the tribes of Israel those who set their heart to seek the Lord God of Israel: and they came to Jerusalem, to sacrifice to the Lord God of their fathers.

GreekΚαὶ ἐξέβαλεν αὐτοὺς ἀπὸ φυλῶν Ἰσραὴλ, οἳ ἔδωκαν καρδίαν αὐτῶν τοῦ ζητῆσαι Κύριον Θεὸν Ἰσραήλ· καὶ ἦλθον εἰς Ἱερουσαλὴμ θῦσαι Κυρίῳ Θεῷ τῶν πατέρων αὐτῶν.

KJVAnd 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.

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

ThomsonSo he strengthened Roboam son of Solomon three years, because for three years he walked in the ways of David and Solomon.

BrentonAnd they strengthened the kingdom of Juda; and Juda strengthened Roboam the son of Solomon for three years, for he walked three years in the ways of David and Solomon.

GreekΚαὶ κατίσχυσαν τὴν βασιλείαν Ἰούδα· καὶ κατίσχυσε Ῥοβοὰμ τὸν τοῦ Σαλωμὼν εἰς ἔτη τρία, ὅτι ἐπορεύθη ἐν ταῖς ὁδοῖς Δαυὶδ καὶ Σαλωμὼν ἔτη τρία.

KJVSo 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.

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

ThomsonNow Roboam took for himself to wife Moolath a daughter of Jerimouth a son of David, and Abigaia a daughter of Eliab the son of Jessai,

BrentonAnd Roboam took to himself for a wife Moolath daughter of Jerimuth the son of David, and Abigaia daughter of Heliab the son of Jessæ.

GreekΚαὶ ἔλαβεν ἑαυτῷ Ῥοβοὰμ γυναῖκα τὴν Μοολὰθ θυγατέρα Ἱεριμοὺθ υἱοῦ Δαυὶδ, καὶ Ἀβιγαίαν θυγατέρα Ἑλιὰβ τοῦ Ἰεσσαί.

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

JPSAnd Rehoboam took him a wife, Mahalath the daughter of Jerimoth the son of David, and of Abihail the daughter of Eliab the son of Jesse;

Thomsonwho bore him sons, namely Jeus and Samoria and Zaam,

BrentonAnd she bore him sons; Jeus, and Samoria, and Zaam.

GreekΚαὶ ἔτεκεν αὐτῷ υἱοὺς, τὸν Ἰεοὺς, καὶ τὸν Σαμαρία, καὶ τὸν Ζαάμ.

KJV—

JPSand she bore him sons: Jeush, and Shemariah, and Zaham.

Thomsonand after that he took to wife Maacha a daughter of Abessalom, and she bore him Abia and Jetthi and Zoza and Salemoth.

BrentonAnd afterwards he took to himself Maacha the daughter of Abessalom; and she bore him Abia, and Jetthi, and Zeza, and Salemoth.

GreekΚαὶ μετὰ ταῦτα ἔλαβεν ἑαυτῷ τὴν Μααχὰ θυγατέρα Ἀβεσσαλὼμ, καὶ ἔτεκεν αὐτῷ τὸν Ἀβιὰ, καὶ τὸν Ἰετθὶ, καὶ τὸν Ζηζὰ, καὶ τὸν Σαλημώθ.

KJV—

JPSAnd after her he took Maacah the daughter of Absalom; and she bore him Abijah, and Attai, and Ziza, and Shelomith.

ThomsonAnd Roboam loved Maacha, daughter of Abessalom, more than all his wives and concubines, (for he had eighteen wives and sixty concubines, and by them he had twentyeight sons and sixty daughters);

BrentonAnd Roboam loved Maacha the daughter of Abessalom more than all his wives and all his concubines: for he had eighteen wives and sixty concubines; and he begot twenty-eight sons, and sixty daughters.

GreekΚαὶ ἠγάπησε Ῥοβοὰμ τὴν Μααχά θυγατέρα Ἀβεσσαλὼμ ὑπὲρ πάσας τὰς γυναῖκας αὐτοῦ καὶ τὰς παλλακὰς αὐτοῦ, ὅτι γυναῖκας δεκαοκτὼ εἶχε καὶ παλλακὰς ἑξήκοντα· καὶ ἐγέννησεν υἱοὺς εἴκοσι καὶ ὀκτὼ, καὶ θυγατέρας ἑξήκοντα.

KJVAnd 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.)

JPSAnd Rehoboam loved Maacah the daughter of Absalom above all his wives and his concubines—for he took eighteen wives, and threescore concubines, and begot twenty and eight sons and threescore daughters.

Thomsonso he appointed Abia the son of Maacha to be chief and ruler among his brothers. Because he determined to make him king,

BrentonAnd he made Abia the son of Maacha chief, even a leader among his brethren, for he intended to make him king.

GreekΚαὶ κατέστησεν εἰς ἄρχοντα Ἀβιὰ τὸν τῆς Μααχὰ εἰς ἡγούμενον ἐν τοῖς ἀδελφοῖς αὐτοῦ, ὅτι βασιλεῦσαι διενοεῖτο αὐτόν.

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

JPSAnd Rehoboam appointed Abijah the son of Maacah to be chief, even the prince among his brethren; for he was minded to make him king.

Thomsontherefore he was exalted above all his sons in all the borders of Juda and Benjamin, and in fortified cities. And he supplied these cities with provisions in abundance, and procured for him a multitude of wives.

BrentonAnd he was exalted beyond all his other sons in all the coasts of Juda and Benjamin, and in the strong cities; and he gave them provisions in great abundance: and he desired many wives.

GreekΚαὶ ηὐξήθη παρὰ πάντας τοὺς υἱοὺς αὐτοῦ ἐν πᾶσι τοῖς ὁρίοις Ἰούδα καὶ Βενιαμὶν, καὶ ἐν ταῖς πόλεσι ταῖς ὀχυραῖς, καὶ ἔδωκεν αὐταῖς τροφὰς πλῆθος πολὺ, καὶ ᾐτήσατο πλῆθος γυναικῶν.

KJVAnd 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.

JPSAnd he dealt wisely, and dispersed of all his sons throughout all the lands of Judah and Benjamin, unto every fortified city; and he gave them victual in abundance. And he sought for them many wives.