²¹ When Rehoboam arrived in Jerusalem, he ·gathered [mobilized; assembled] one hundred eighty thousand of the ·best [elite; select] soldiers from the tribes of Judah and Benjamin. As son of Solomon, Rehoboam wanted to fight the ·people [^Lhouse] of Israel to ·take back [restore] his kingdom.

²² But ·God spoke his word [^Lthe word of God came] to Shemaiah, ·a [or the] man of God [^Ca prophet], saying, ²³ “·Speak [Say] to Solomon’s son Rehoboam, the king of Judah, and to all the ·people [^Lhouse] of Judah and Benjamin and the rest of the people. Say to them,