4. ‘the Lord says, “You shall not go up, nor fight against your brothers! Every man return to his house; for this thing is of me.”’” So they listened to the Lord’s words, and returned from going against Jeroboam.
5. Rehoboam lived in Jerusalem, and built cities for defence in Judah.
6. He built Bethlehem, Etam, Tekoa,
7. Beth Zur, Soco, Adullam,
8. Gath, Mareshah, Ziph,
9. Adoraim, Lachish, Azekah,
10. Zorah, Aijalon, and Hebron, which are fortified cities in Judah and in Benjamin.
11. He fortified the strongholds, and put captains in them, and stores of food, oil and wine.
12. He put shields and spears in every city, and made them exceedingly strong. Judah and Benjamin belonged to him.
13. The priests and the Levites who were in all Israel stood with him out of all their territory.
14. For the Levites left their pasture lands and their possession, and came to Judah and Jerusalem; for Jeroboam and his sons cast them off, that they should not execute the priest’s office to the Lord.