13The priests and Levites from all their regions throughout Israel took their stand with Rehoboam,

14for the Levites left their pasturelands and their possessions11:14 Nm 35:2–5 and went to Judah and Jerusalem, because Jeroboam and his sons refused to let them serve as priests of the Lord.11:14 2Ch 13:9

15Jeroboam appointed his own priests for the high places,11:15 Ex 34:16–17 the goat-demons,11:15 Lv 17:7 and the golden calves he had made.11:15 1Kg 12:25–33; 13:33

16Those from every tribe of Israel who had determined in their hearts to seek the Lord their God followed the Levites to Jerusalem to sacrifice to the Lord, the God of their ancestors.

17So they strengthened the kingdom of Judah and supported Rehoboam son of Solomon for three years,11:17 2Ch 12:1 because they walked in the ways of David and Solomon for three years.

18Rehoboam married Mahalath, daughter of David’s son Jerimoth and of Abihail daughter of Jesse’s son Eliab.11:18 1Sm 16:6

19She bore sons to him: Jeush, Shemariah, and Zaham.

20After her, he married Maacah daughter11:20 Possibly granddaughter, also in v. 21; 2Ch 13:211:20 2Ch 13:2 of Absalom. She bore Abijah, Attai, Ziza, and Shelomith to him.

21Rehoboam loved Maacah daughter of Absalom more than all his wives and concubines. He acquired eighteen wives11:21 Dt 17:17 and sixty concubines and was the father of twenty-eight sons and sixty daughters.

22Rehoboam appointed Abijah son of Maacah as chief, leader among his brothers, intending to make him king.11:22 Dt 21:15–17

23Rehoboam also showed discernment by dispersing some of his sons to all the regions of Judah and Benjamin and to all the fortified cities. He gave them plenty of provisions and sought many wives for them.