8 Gath, Mareshah, Ziph,
9 Adoraim, Lachish, Azekah,
10 Zorah, Aijalon and Hebron. These were strong, walled cities in Judah and Benjamin.
11 When Rehoboam made those cities strong, he put commanders in them. He also put supplies of food, oil and wine in them.
12 Also, Rehoboam put shields and spears in all the cities. So he made them very strong. Rehoboam kept the peoples and cities of Judah and Benjamin under his control.
13 The priests and the Levites from all over Israel joined Rehoboam.
14 The Levites even left their pasturelands and fields and came to Judah and Jerusalem. They did this because Jeroboam and his sons refused to let them serve as priests to the Lord.