5 Rehoboam ruled from Jerusalem, and he had several cities in Judah turned into fortresses so he could use them to defend his country. These cities included
6 Bethlehem, Etam, Tekoa,
7 Beth-Zur, Soco, Adullam,
8 Gath, Mareshah, Ziph,
9 Adoraim, Lachish, Azekah,
10 Zorah, Aijalon, and Hebron. After he had fortified these cities in the territories of Judah and Benjamin,
11 he assigned an army commander to each of them and stocked them with supplies of food, olive oil, and wine,