2. But the Lord spoke his word to Shemaiah, the man of God. The Lord said,
3. “Shemaiah, talk to Solomon’s son Rehoboam, the king of Judah. Talk also to all the Israelites living in Judah and Benjamin. Say to them,
4. ‘The Lord says you must not go to war against your brothers. Every one of you should go home. I made all these things happen.’” So King Rehoboam and his army obeyed the Lord’s command. They turned back and did not attack Jeroboam.
5. Rehoboam lived in Jerusalem. He built strong cities in Judah to defend it against attacks.
6. He built up the cities of Bethlehem, Etam, Tekoa,
7. Beth Zur, Soco, Adullam,