6. And he built up Bethlehem, and Etam, and Tekoa,
7. and also Bethzur, and Soco, and Adullam,
8. indeed also Gath, and Mareshah, and Ziph,
9. then too Adoram, and Lachish, and Azekah,
10. as well as Zorah, and Aijalon, and Hebron, which were very fortified cities in Judah and in Benjamin.
11. And when he had enclosed them with walls, he placed in them rulers, and storehouses of provisions, that is, of oil and wine.
12. Moreover, in each city he made an armory of shields and spears, and he strengthened them with the utmost diligence. And he ruled over Judah and Benjamin.
13. Then the priests and Levites, who were in all of Israel, came to him from all their settlements,
14. leaving behind their suburbs and possessions, and crossing over to Judah and to Jerusalem. For Jeroboam and his followers had cast them out, so that they could not exercise the priestly office to the Lord.
15. And he appointed for himself priests of high places, and of demons, and of calves that he had made.
16. Moreover, out of all the tribes of Israel, whosoever would give their heart so that they sought the Lord God of Israel, they went to Jerusalem to immolate their victims before the Lord, the God of their fathers.
17. And they strengthened the kingdom of Judah, and they confirmed Rehoboam, the son of Solomon, for three years. For they walked in the ways of David and of Solomon, but only for three years.