⁶ He built ^(A)fortified cities in Judah, for the land had rest. He had no war in those years, ^(B)for the Lord gave him peace.

¹⁵ And all Judah rejoiced over the oath, for they had sworn with all their heart and had sought him with their whole desire, and he was found by them, ^(A)and the Lord gave them rest all around.

⁵ Rehoboam lived in Jerusalem, and he built ^(A)cities for defense in Judah. ⁶ He built Bethlehem, Etam, Tekoa, ⁷ Beth-zur, Soco, Adullam, ⁸ Gath, ^(B)Mareshah, Ziph, ⁹ Adoraim, Lachish, Azekah, ¹⁰ Zorah, Aijalon, and Hebron, fortified cities that are in Judah and in Benjamin. ¹¹ He made the fortresses strong, and put commanders in them, and stores of food, oil, and wine. ¹² And he put shields and spears in all the cities and made them very strong. So he held Judah and Benjamin.

⁹ Behold, a son shall be born to you who shall be a man of rest. ^(A)I will give him rest from all his surrounding enemies. ^(B)For his name shall be Solomon, and I will give peace and quiet to Israel in his days.

² Solomon rebuilt the cities that Hiram had given to him, and settled the people of Israel in them.

³ And Solomon went to Hamath-zobah and took it. ⁴ He built Tadmor in the wilderness and all the store cities that he built in Hamath. ⁵ He also built ^(A)Upper Beth-horon and Lower Beth-horon, ^(B)fortified cities ^(C)with walls, gates, and bars, ⁶ and Baalath, and all the store cities that Solomon had and all the cities for his chariots and the cities for his horsemen, and whatever Solomon desired to build in Jerusalem, in Lebanon, and in all the land of his dominion.

^4 (A)But now the Lord my God has given me rest on every side. There is neither adversary nor misfortune.

^(D)And the land had rest for forty years.