Rehoboam Fortifies Judah

⁵ Rehoboam lived in Jerusalem and built up towns for defense in Judah:

² Solomon rebuilt the villages that Hiram^[a] had given him, and settled Israelites in them. ³ Solomon then went to Hamath Zobah and captured it. ⁴ He also built up Tadmor in the desert and all the store cities he had built in Hamath.^{(A) 5} He rebuilt Upper Beth Horon^(B) and Lower Beth Horon as fortified cities, with walls and with gates and bars, ⁶ as well as Baalath^(C) and all his store cities, and all the cities for his chariots and for his horses^[b]—whatever he desired to build in Jerusalem, in Lebanon and throughout all the territory he ruled.

⁴ He built towns in the hill country of Judah and forts and towers in the wooded areas.

⁶ He went to war against the Philistines^(A) and broke down the walls of Gath, Jabneh and Ashdod.^(B) He then rebuilt towns near Ashdod and elsewhere among the Philistines.

¹² Jehoshaphat became more and more powerful; he built forts and store cities in Judah

⁶ Then King Asa brought all the men of Judah, and they carried away from Ramah the stones and timber Baasha had been using. With them he built up Geba and Mizpah.^(A)

⁶ He built up the fortified cities of Judah, since the land was at peace. No one was at war with him during those years, for the Lord gave him rest.^(A)

⁷ “Let us build up these towns,” he said to Judah, “and put walls around them, with towers, gates and bars. The land is still ours, because we have sought the Lord our God; we sought him and he has given us rest^(B) on every side.” So they built and prospered.

²³ He acted wisely, dispersing some of his sons throughout the districts of Judah and Benjamin, and to all the fortified cities. He gave them abundant provisions^(A) and took many wives for them.