2 Chronicles 11:1-10 ▼

1 When Rehoboam arrived at Jerusalem, he mobilized the men of Judah and Benjamin—180,000 select troops—to fight against Israel and to restore the kingdom to himself.

2 But the LORD said to Shemaiah, the man of God,

3 “Say to Rehoboam son of Solomon, king of Judah, and to all the Israelites in Judah and Benjamin:

4 ‘This is what the LORD says: Do not fight against your relatives. Go back home, for what has happened is my doing!’” So they obeyed the message of the LORD and did not fight against Jeroboam.

5 Rehoboam remained in Jerusalem and fortified various towns for the defense of Judah.

6 He built up Bethlehem, Etam, Tekoa,

7 Beth-zur, Soco, Adullam,

8 Gath, Mareshah, Ziph,

9 Adoraim, Lachish, Azekah,

10 Zorah, Aijalon, and Hebron. These became the fortified towns of Judah and Benjamin.