² He placed forces in all the ^(A)fortified cities of Judah and set garrisons in the land of Judah, and in the cities of Ephraim ^(B)that Asa his father had captured.

⁸ As soon as Asa heard these words, ^(A)the prophecy of Azariah the son of Oded, he took courage and put away the detestable idols from all the land of Judah and Benjamin and from ^(B)the cities that he had taken in ^(C)the hill country of Ephraim, and he repaired the altar of the Lord ^(D)that was in front of the vestibule of the house of the Lord.^[a]

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.

⁵ Rehoboam lived in Jerusalem, and he built ^(A)cities for defense in Judah.