2 Chronicles 11:5
◄  2 Chronicles 11:5  ►
New International Version (©2011)
Rehoboam lived in Jerusalem and built up towns for defense in Judah:

New Living Translation (©2007)
Rehoboam remained in Jerusalem and fortified various towns for the defense of Judah.

English Standard Version (©2001)
Rehoboam lived in Jerusalem, and he built cities for defense in Judah.

New American Standard Bible (©1995)
Rehoboam lived in Jerusalem and built cities for defense in Judah.

King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)
And Rehoboam dwelt in Jerusalem, and built cities for defence in Judah.

Holman Christian Standard Bible (©2009)
Rehoboam stayed in Jerusalem, and he fortified cities in Judah.

International Standard Version (©2012)
Rehoboam continued to live in Jerusalem and built defensive fortification cities throughout Judah,

NET Bible (©2006)
Rehoboam lived in Jerusalem; he built up these fortified cities throughout Judah:

GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
Rehoboam lived in Jerusalem and built fortified cities in Judah.

King James 2000 Bible (©2003)
And Rehoboam dwelt in Jerusalem, and built cities for defense in Judah.

American King James Version
And Rehoboam dwelled in Jerusalem, and built cities for defense in Judah.

American Standard Version
And Rehoboam dwelt in Jerusalem, and built cities for defence in Judah.

Douay-Rheims Bible
And Roboam dwelt in Jerusalem, and built walled cities in Juda.

Darby Bible Translation
And Rehoboam dwelt in Jerusalem, and built cities for defence in Judah.

English Revised Version
And Rehoboam dwelt in Jerusalem, and built cities for defence in Judah.

Webster's Bible Translation
And Rehoboam dwelt in Jerusalem, and built cities for defense in Judah.

World English Bible
Rehoboam lived in Jerusalem, and built cities for defense in Judah.

Young's Literal Translation
And Rehoboam dwelleth in Jerusalem, and buildeth cities for a bulwark in Judah,

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

11:1-12 A few good words might have prevented the rebellion of Rehoboam's subjects; but all the force of his kingdom cannot bring them back. And it is in vain to contend with the purpose of God, when it is made known to us. Even those who are destitute of true faith, will at times pay some regard to the word of God, and be kept by it from wrong actions, to which they are prone by nature.

Pulpit Commentary

Verses 5-12. - These eight verses tell how Rehoboam, relieved of the responsibility of attempting to reconquer the revolted, wisely betakes himself to strengthening and defending what was left to him. He builds fifteen "fenced cities," or "cities for defence," twelve of them south and west of Jerusalem, for lear of Egypt; he fortifies certain strongholds, officering them, provisioning them, and supplying to them and "every several city" the necessary weapons of warfare and shields.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

And Rehoboam dwelt in Jerusalem,.... The metropolis of Judah, and the capital city of his kingdom:

and built cities for defence in Judah; that is, rebuilt, enlarged, and fortified them; for otherwise they were built before, though neglected before the revolt of the ten tribes; but now it became necessary to make them more capacious and strong, to protect his people, and defend himself against Israel; for though he was forbid to act offensively, and therefore contented himself to abide in Jerusalem, and not go forth to war; yet he might lawfully put himself into a condition of defence.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

5-11. built cities for defence in Judah—This is evidently used as the name of the southern kingdom. Rehoboam, having now a bitter enemy in Israel, deemed it prudent to lose no time in fortifying several cities that lay along the frontier of his kingdom. Jeroboam, on his side, took a similar precaution (1Ki 12:25). Of the fifteen cities named, Aijalon, now Yalo, and Zorah, now Surah, between Jerusalem and Jabneh [Robinson], lay within the province of Benjamin. Gath, though a Philistine city, had been subject to Solomon. And Etham, which was on the border of Simeon, now incorporated with the kingdom of Israel, was fortified to repel danger from that quarter. These fortresses Rehoboam placed under able commanders and stocked them with provisions and military stores, sufficient, if necessary, to stand a siege. In the crippled state of his kingdom, he seems to have been afraid lest it might be made the prey of some powerful neighbors.

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Rehoboam Fortifies Judah
5And Rehoboam dwelled in Jerusalem, and built cities for defense in Judah. 6He built even Bethlehem, and Etam, and Tekoa, 7And Bethzur, and Shoco, and Adullam, …

2 Chronicles 8:2 Solomon rebuilt the villages that Hiram had given him, and settled Israelites in them.
2 Chronicles 11:6 Bethlehem, Etam, Tekoa,
2 Chronicles 11:23 He acted wisely, dispersing some of his sons throughout the districts of Judah and Benjamin, and to all the fortified cities. He gave them abundant provisions and took many wives for them.
2 Chronicles 12:4 he captured the fortified cities of Judah and came as far as Jerusalem.
2 Chronicles 14:6 He built up the fortified cities of Judah, since the land was at peace. No one was at war with him during those years, for the LORD gave him rest.
2 Chronicles 17:2 He stationed troops in all the fortified cities of Judah and put garrisons in Judah and in the towns of Ephraim that his father Asa had captured.
2 Chronicles 21:3 Their father had given them many gifts of silver and gold and articles of value, as well as fortified cities in Judah, but he had given the kingdom to Jehoram because he was his firstborn son.
2 Chronicles 27:4 He built towns in the hill country of Judah and forts and towers in the wooded areas.
Jeremiah 34:7 while the army of the king of Babylon was fighting against Jerusalem and the other cities of Judah that were still holding out--Lachish and Azekah. These were the only fortified cities left in Judah.