1. When Rehoboam came to Jerusalem, he called together from the house of Judah and Benjamin one hundred and eighty thousand choice men to make war and to battle with Israel in order to restore the kingdom to Rehoboam.
2. But the word of the Lord came to Shemaiah the man of God saying:
3. Speak to Rehoboam, son of Solomon and king of Judah, and to all Israel in Judah and Benjamin,
4. “So says the Lord: You are not to go up and fight against your brothers. Each man must return to his house, for this event is from Me.” So they obeyed the word of the Lord and turned back from attacking Jeroboam.
5. So Rehoboam dwelled in Jerusalem and built siege cities in Judah.
6. He built Bethlehem, Etam, Tekoa,
7. Beth Zur in the east, Soko, Adullam,
8. Gath, Mareshah in the west, Ziph,
9. Adoraim, Lachish in the south, Azekah,
10. Zorah, Aijalon in the northwest, and central Hebron, all of which were fortified cities in Judah and Benjamin.
11. He strengthened the fortresses and set leaders in them with stockpiles of food, oil, and wine.
12. And in all the cities he placed shields and spears, and he greatly strengthened these places. So he held Judah and Benjamin.