And Rehoboam dwelt in Jerusalem, and built cities for defence in Judah.
Built cities for defense in Judah, х wayiben (H1129) `aariym (H5892) lªmaatsowr (H4692)] - and fortified cities (see 2 Chronicles 11:6, where baanaah (H1129) is used alone in this sense). This verb is frequently used to denote the fortification of a city (cf. Joshua 6:5); and the reason, as Hengstenberg remarks, ('Christology,' 3:, p. 132), is 'partly because in the case existence the building must necessarily have been restricted to the fortification of it, and partly became the term city, in its fullest extent, involves the idea of fortification.' In corroboration of this view, it may be added that Moslem princes rarely build towns but on old sites, and out of old materials, so that there is not in all Palestine a town which is certainly known to have been rounded by them. 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 (1 Kings 12:25). Of the 15 cities named, Aijalon, now Yalo, and Zorah, now Surah, between Jerusalem and Jabneh, lay within the province of Benjamin. Gath, though a Philistine city, had been subject to Solomon. And Etbam, 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.