Thus Rehoboam strengthened himself in Jerusalem and reigned. Now Rehoboam [was] forty-one years old when he became king; and he reigned seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city which the LORD had chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, to put His name there. His mother's name [was] Naamah, an Ammonitess.

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

And under their authority [was] an army of three hundred and seven thousand five hundred, that made war with mighty power, to help the king against the enemy.

And he made devices in Jerusalem, invented by skillful men, to be on the towers and the corners, to shoot arrows and large stones. So his fame spread far and wide, for he was marvelously helped till he became strong.

" So it shall be, when the LORD your God brings you into the land of which He swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give you large and beautiful cities which you did not build,

"[then] beware, lest you forget the LORD who brought you out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage.

"When you have eaten and are full, then you shall bless the LORD your God for the good land which He has given you.

"lest -- [when] you have eaten and are full, and have built beautiful houses and dwell [in them;]

"when your heart is lifted up, and you forget the LORD your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage;

" But Jeshurun grew fat and kicked; You grew fat, you grew thick, You are obese! Then he forsook God [who] made him, And scornfully esteemed the Rock of his salvation.

Of the Rock [who] begot you, you are unmindful, And have forgotten the God who fathered you.

"Then they will answer, 'Because they forsook the LORD their God, who brought their fathers out of the land of Egypt, and have embraced other gods, and worshiped them and served them; therefore the LORD has brought all this calamity on them.' "

"O generation, see the word of the LORD! Have I been a wilderness to Israel, Or a land of darkness? Why do My people say, 'We are lords; We will come no more to You'?

When Ephraim spoke, trembling, He exalted [himself] in Israel; But when he offended through Baal [worship,] he died.

When they had pasture, they were filled; They were filled and their heart was exalted; Therefore they forgot Me.

I will meet them like a bear deprived [of her cubs;] I will tear open their rib cage, And there I will devour them like a lion. The wild beast shall tear them.

"Speak to Rehoboam the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and to all Israel in Judah and Benjamin, saying,

But Rehoboam reigned over the children of Israel who dwelt in the cities of Judah.

Now Judah did evil in the sight of the LORD, and they provoked Him to jealousy with their sins which they committed, more than all that their fathers had done.

And there were also perverted persons in the land. They did according to all the abominations of the nations which the LORD had cast out before the children of Israel.

Also Judah did not keep the commandments of the LORD their God, but walked in the statutes of Israel which they made.

"The princes of Judah are like those who remove a landmark; I will pour out my wrath on them like water.

Ephraim is oppressed [and] broken in judgment, Because he willingly walked by [human] precept.

For the statutes of Omri are kept; All the works of Ahab's house [are done;] And you walk in their counsels, That I may make you a desolation, And your inhabitants a hissing. Therefore you shall bear the reproach of My people."