8 Gath, Mareshah, Ziph,
9 Adoraim, Lachish, Azekah,
10 Zorah, Aijalon, and Hebron. These were fortified cities in Judah and Benjamin.
11 He strengthened them and put army officers with reserves of food, olive oil, and wine in them.
12 In each city he stored shields and spears. He made the cities very secure. So Rehoboam held on to Judah and Benjamin.
13 The priests and Levites in every region of Israel sided with Rehoboam.
14 The priests abandoned their land and property and went to Judah and Jerusalem because Jer o boam and his descendants rejected them as the Lord’s priests.