Rehoboam mustered 180,000 young men from Judah and Benjamin to go to war against Israel, but the man of God Shemaiah spoke against this so they turned back from marching against Jeroboam. Rehoboam however built up towns for defence in Judah such as Bethlehem and Hebron. He strengthened their defenses and put commanders in them, and the priests and Levites in Israel sided with Rehoboam because Jeroboam had rejected them as priests appointing his own priests for the high places and for the goat and calf idols he had made. Those that set their hearts on serving the Lord followed the Levites to Jerusalem where they supported Rehoboam for 3 years.
Rehoboam married Mahalath, then married Maakah who was his favourite out of his 18 wives and 60 concubines! (like father like son!) He had 28 sons and 60 daughters. He appointed Abijah as crown prince among his brothers and he dispersed some of his sons throughout Judah and Benjamin giving them abundant provisions and many wives.
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