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

Mary Visits Elizabeth

³⁹ At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea,^(A)

⁹ Uzziah built towers in Jerusalem at the Corner Gate,^(A) at the Valley Gate^(B) and at the angle of the wall, and he fortified them. ¹⁰ He also built towers in the wilderness and dug many cisterns, because he had much livestock in the foothills and in the plain. He had people working his fields and vineyards in the hills and in the fertile lands, for he loved the soil.

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^(A) on every side.” So they built and prospered.

Rehoboam Fortifies Judah

⁵ Rehoboam lived in Jerusalem and built up towns for defense in Judah: ⁶ Bethlehem, Etam, Tekoa, ⁷ Beth Zur, Soko, Adullam, ⁸ Gath, Mareshah, Ziph, ⁹ Adoraim, Lachish, Azekah, ¹⁰ Zorah, Aijalon and Hebron. These were fortified cities^(A) in Judah and Benjamin.

¹² Now give me this hill country that the Lord promised me that day.^(A) You yourself heard then that the Anakites^(B) were there and their cities were large and fortified,^(C) but, the Lord helping me, I will drive them out just as he said.”

¹³ Then Joshua blessed^(D) Caleb son of Jephunneh^(E) and gave him Hebron^(F) as his inheritance.^(G)