5. Rehoboam lived in Jerusalem and built up towns for defence in Judah:
6. Bethlehem, Etam, Tekoa,
7. Beth Zur, Soko, Adullam,
8. Gath, Mareshah, Ziph,
9. Adoraim, Lachish, Azekah,
10. Zorah, Aijalon and Hebron. These were fortified cities in Judah and Benjamin.
11. He strengthened their defences and put commanders in them, with supplies of food, olive oil and wine.
12. He put shields and spears in all the cities, and made them very strong. So Judah and Benjamin were his.
13. The priests and Levites from all their districts throughout Israel sided with him.
14. The Levites even abandoned their pasture-lands and property and came to Judah and Jerusalem, because Jeroboam and his sons had rejected them as priests of the Lord