² He stationed troops in all the fortified cities^(A) of Judah and put garrisons in Judah and in the towns of Ephraim that his father Asa had captured.^(B)

⁸ When Asa heard these words and the prophecy of Azariah son of^[a] Oded the prophet, he took courage. He removed the detestable idols^(A) from the whole land of Judah and Benjamin and from the towns he had captured^(B) in the hills of Ephraim. He repaired the altar^(C) of the Lord that was in front of the portico of the Lord’s temple.

¹¹ He strengthened their defenses 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.

Rehoboam Fortifies Judah

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