4. ‘Yahweh says, “You shall not go up, nor fight against your brothers! Every man return to his house; for this thing is of me.”’” So they listened to Yahweh’s words, and returned from going against Jeroboam.
5. Rehoboam lived in Jerusalem, and built cities for defense in Judah.
6. He built Bethlehem, Etam, Tekoa,
7. Beth Zur, Soco, Adullam,
8. Gath, Mareshah, Ziph,
9. Adoraim, Lachish, Azekah,
10. Zorah, Aijalon, and Hebron, which are fortified cities in Judah and in Benjamin.
11. He fortified the strongholds, and put captains in them, and stores of food, oil and wine.
12. He put shields and spears in every city, and made them exceedingly strong. Judah and Benjamin belonged to him.