1. When Rehoboam arrived at Jerusalem, he assembled the house of Judah and Benjamin, one hundred eighty thousand select warriors, to fight against Israel and to restore the kingdom to Rehoboam.
2. But the Lord’s word came to Shemaiah the man of God:
3. Tell Judah’s King Rehoboam, Solomon’s son, and all Israel in Judah and Benjamin,
4. This is what the Lord says: Don’t make war against your relatives. Go home, every one of you, because this is my plan. When they heard the Lord’s words, they abandoned their attack against Jeroboam.
5. Rehoboam lived in Jerusalem, but he built cities for Judah’s defense
6. in Bethlehem, Etam, Tekoa,
7. Beth-zur, Soco, Adullam,
8. Gath, Mareshah, Ziph,
9. Adoraim, Lachish, Azekah,
10. Zorah, Aijalon, and Hebron. These were the fortified cities in Judah and Benjamin.
11. He made the fortifications stronger, placed commanders in them, and supplied them with food, oil, and wine.
12. He also stored shields and spears in each of the cities, making them very strong. This is how Judah and Benjamin remained under his control.
13. The priests and the Levites from every region throughout all Israel sided with Rehoboam.