1. When King Rehoboam arrived in Jerusalem, he called together 180,000 of the best soldiers from the tribes of Benjamin and Judah. He intended to go to war and restore his control over the northern tribes of Israel.
2. But the Lord told the prophet Shemaiah
3. to give this message to King Rehoboam and to all the people of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin:
4. “Do not attack your fellow-Israelites. Go home, all of you. What has happened is my will.” They obeyed the Lord's command and did not go to fight Jeroboam.
5. Rehoboam remained in Jerusalem and had fortifications built for the following cities of Judah and Benjamin:
6. Bethlehem, Etam, Tekoa,
7. Bethzur, Soco, Adullam,
8. Gath, Mareshah, Ziph,
9. Adoraim, Lachish, Azekah,
10. Zorah, Aijalon, and Hebron.
11. He had them strongly fortified and appointed a commander for each of them, and in each one he placed supplies of food, olive oil, and wine,