2 Chronicles 11:5
New International Version
Rehoboam lived in Jerusalem and built up towns for defense in Judah:

New Living Translation
Rehoboam remained in Jerusalem and fortified various towns for the defense of Judah.

English Standard Version
Rehoboam lived in Jerusalem, and he built cities for defense in Judah.

Berean Standard Bible
Rehoboam continued to live in Jerusalem, and he built up cities for defense in Judah.

King James Bible
And Rehoboam dwelt in Jerusalem, and built cities for defence in Judah.

New King James Version
So Rehoboam dwelt in Jerusalem, and built cities for defense in Judah.

New American Standard Bible
Rehoboam lived in Jerusalem and built cities for defense in Judah.

NASB 1995
Rehoboam lived in Jerusalem and built cities for defense in Judah.

NASB 1977
Rehoboam lived in Jerusalem and built cities for defense in Judah.

Legacy Standard Bible
Rehoboam lived in Jerusalem and built cities for fortifications in Judah.

Amplified Bible
Rehoboam lived in Jerusalem and built [fortified] cities for defense in Judah.

Christian Standard Bible
Rehoboam stayed in Jerusalem, and he fortified cities in Judah.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Rehoboam stayed in Jerusalem, and he fortified cities in Judah.

American Standard Version
And Rehoboam dwelt in Jerusalem, and built cities for defence in Judah.

Contemporary English Version
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

English Revised Version
And Rehoboam dwelt in Jerusalem, and built cities for defence in Judah.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Rehoboam lived in Jerusalem and built fortified cities in Judah.

Good News Translation
Rehoboam remained in Jerusalem and had fortifications built for the following cities of Judah and Benjamin:

International Standard Version
Rehoboam continued to live in Jerusalem and built defensive fortification cities throughout Judah,

Majority Standard Bible
Rehoboam continued to live in Jerusalem, and he built up cities for defense in Judah.

NET Bible
Rehoboam lived in Jerusalem; he built up these fortified cities throughout Judah:

New Heart English Bible
Rehoboam lived in Jerusalem, and built cities for defense in Judah.

Webster's Bible Translation
And Rehoboam dwelt in Jerusalem, and built cities for defense in Judah.

World English Bible
Rehoboam lived in Jerusalem, and built cities for defense in Judah.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And Rehoboam dwells in Jerusalem, and builds cities for a bulwark in Judah,

Young's Literal Translation
And Rehoboam dwelleth in Jerusalem, and buildeth cities for a bulwark in Judah,

Smith's Literal Translation
And Rehoboam will dwell in Jerusalem, and he will build cities for fortification in Judah.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And Roboam dwelt in Jerusalem, and built walled cities in Juda.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Then Rehoboam lived in Jerusalem, and he built fortified cities in Judah.

New American Bible
Rehoboam took up residence in Jerusalem and built fortified cities in Judah.

New Revised Standard Version
Rehoboam resided in Jerusalem, and he built cities for defense in Judah.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And Jeroboam built Shechem on the mountain of the tribe of the house of Ephraim, and dwelt in it; and went out from there and built Penuel.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And Yorbaam built Shekim in the mountain of the tribe of the house of Ephraim, and he dwelt in it and he went out from there and built Penuil.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And Rehoboam dwelt in Jerusalem, and built cities for defence in Judah.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And Roboam dwelt in Jerusalem, and he built walled cities in Judea.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Rehoboam Fortifies Judah
5Rehoboam continued to live in Jerusalem, and he built up cities for defense in Judah. 6He built up Bethlehem, Etam, Tekoa,…

Cross References
1 Kings 12:25
Then Jeroboam built Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim and lived there. And from there he went out and built Penuel.

2 Chronicles 8:2-6
Solomon rebuilt the cities Hiram had given him and settled Israelites there. / Then Solomon went to Hamath-zobah and captured it. / He built Tadmor in the wilderness, in addition to all the store cities that he had built in Hamath. ...

2 Chronicles 14:6-7
Because the land was at peace, Asa built fortified cities in Judah. In those days no one made war with him, because the LORD had given him rest. / So he said to the people of Judah, “Let us build these cities and surround them with walls and towers, with doors and bars. The land is still ours because we have sought the LORD our God. We have sought Him, and He has given us rest on every side.” So they built and prospered.

2 Chronicles 17:12
Jehoshaphat grew stronger and stronger, and he built fortresses and store cities in Judah

2 Chronicles 27:4
He also built cities in the hill country of Judah and fortresses and towers in the forests.

2 Chronicles 32:5
Then Hezekiah worked resolutely to rebuild all the broken sections of the wall and to raise up towers on it. He also built an outer wall and reinforced the supporting terraces of the City of David, and he produced an abundance of weapons and shields.

Nehemiah 3:1-32
At the Sheep Gate, Eliashib the high priest and his fellow priests began rebuilding. They dedicated it and installed its doors. After building as far as the Tower of the Hundred and the Tower of Hananel, they dedicated the wall. / The men of Jericho built next to Eliashib, and Zaccur son of Imri built next to them. / The Fish Gate was rebuilt by the sons of Hassenaah. They laid its beams and installed its doors, bolts, and bars. ...

Nehemiah 4:16-18
And from that day on, half of my servants did the work while the other half held spears, shields, bows, and armor. The officers stationed themselves behind all the people of Judah / who were rebuilding the wall. The laborers who carried materials worked with one hand and held a weapon with the other. / And each of the builders worked with his sword strapped at his side. But the trumpeter stayed beside me.

Isaiah 22:10
You counted the houses of Jerusalem and tore them down to strengthen the wall.

Jeremiah 31:38-40
“The days are coming,” declares the LORD, “when this city will be rebuilt for Me, from the tower of Hananel to the Corner Gate. / The measuring line will once again stretch out straight to the hill of Gareb and then turn toward Goah. / The whole valley of the dead bodies and ashes, and all the fields as far as the Kidron Valley, to the corner of the Horse Gate to the east, will be holy to the LORD. It will never again be uprooted or demolished.”

Ezekiel 36:35
Then they will say, ‘This land that was desolate has become like the garden of Eden. The cities that were once ruined, desolate, and destroyed are now fortified and inhabited.’

Matthew 16:18
And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it.

Acts 15:16
‘After this I will return and rebuild the fallen tent of David. Its ruins I will rebuild, and I will restore it,

Hebrews 11:10
For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.

Revelation 21:2
I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.


Treasury of Scripture

And Rehoboam dwelled in Jerusalem, and built cities for defense in Judah.

A.

2 Chronicles 8:2-6
That the cities which Huram had restored to Solomon, Solomon built them, and caused the children of Israel to dwell there…

2 Chronicles 14:6,7
And he built fenced cities in Judah: for the land had rest, and he had no war in those years; because the LORD had given him rest…

2 Chronicles 16:6
Then Asa the king took all Judah; and they carried away the stones of Ramah, and the timber thereof, wherewith Baasha was building; and he built therewith Geba and Mizpah.

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Buildeth Building Built Bulwark Cities Defence Defense Dwelleth Dwelt Jerusalem Judah Kept Rehoboam Rehobo'am Towns Walled
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Buildeth Building Built Bulwark Cities Defence Defense Dwelleth Dwelt Jerusalem Judah Kept Rehoboam Rehobo'am Towns Walled
2 Chronicles 11
1. Rehoboam raising an army to subdue Israel, is forbidden by Shemaiah
5. He strengthens his kingdom with forts and provisions
13. The priests and Levites, and such as feared God, forsaken by Jeroboam,
17. strengthen the kingdom of Judah
18. The wives and children of Rehoboam














Rehoboam continued to live in Jerusalem
Rehoboam, the son of Solomon, chose to establish his residence in Jerusalem, the city of David. The Hebrew root for "continued" (יָשַׁב, yashab) implies a sense of dwelling or remaining, indicating Rehoboam's commitment to his capital. Jerusalem, being the spiritual and political center of Judah, held significant importance as the location of the Temple, the dwelling place of God among His people. Rehoboam's decision to remain in Jerusalem underscores his desire to maintain the legacy of his father and grandfather, anchoring his rule in the city chosen by God.

and built up cities for defense
The phrase "built up" (בָּנָה, banah) suggests not only construction but also fortification and strengthening. Rehoboam's actions were a strategic response to the political and military threats following the division of the kingdom. The building of cities for defense reflects a proactive approach to securing the borders of Judah against potential invasions, particularly from the northern kingdom of Israel. This act of fortification demonstrates Rehoboam's awareness of the need for physical security and stability in a time of national division.

in Judah
Judah, the southern kingdom, was the territory allotted to the tribe of Judah, from which Rehoboam descended. The historical and scriptural significance of Judah is profound, as it was prophesied to be the lineage through which the Messiah would come (Genesis 49:10). By focusing his efforts on fortifying cities within Judah, Rehoboam was not only protecting his immediate realm but also preserving the line through which God's promises would be fulfilled. The emphasis on Judah highlights the enduring covenantal relationship between God and the house of David, despite the challenges faced by Rehoboam's reign.

(b) REHOBOAM STRENGTHENS THE DEFENCES OF HIS KINGDOM (2Chronicles 11:5-12).

This section is peculiar to the chronicler.

(5) Dwelt in Jerusalem.--As the capital.

Cities for defence.--('Arim l'm?cor = 'are m?c?r; 2Chronicles 8:5), "embattled cities; "LXX., ?????? ?????????.

In Judah.--Not the territory of the tribe, but the kingdom is intended, for some of the fortresses were in Benjamin (2Chronicles 11:10).

Verses 5-12. - These eight verses tell how Rehoboam, relieved of the responsibility of attempting to reconquer the revolted, wisely betakes himself to strengthening and defending what was left to him. He builds fifteen "fenced cities," or "cities for defence," twelve of them south and west of Jerusalem, for lear of Egypt; he fortifies certain strongholds, officering them, provisioning them, and supplying to them and "every several city" the necessary weapons of warfare and shields.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Rehoboam
רְחַבְעָ֖ם (rə·ḥaḇ·‘ām)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 7346: Rehoboam -- 'a people are enlarged', a king of Judah

continued to live
וַיֵּ֥שֶׁב (way·yê·šeḇ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3427: To sit down, to dwell, to remain, to settle, to marry

in Jerusalem,
בִּירוּשָׁלִָ֑ם (bî·rū·šā·lim)
Preposition-b | Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 3389: Jerusalem -- probably 'foundation of peace', capital city of all Israel

and he built up
וַיִּ֧בֶן (way·yi·ḇen)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1129: To build

cities
עָרִ֛ים (‘ā·rîm)
Noun - feminine plural
Strong's 5892: Excitement

for defense
לְמָצ֖וֹר (lə·mā·ṣō·wr)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4692: Something hemming in, a mound, a siege, distress, a fastness

in Judah.
בִּיהוּדָֽה׃ (bî·hū·ḏāh)
Preposition-b | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3063: Judah -- 'praised', a son of Jacob, also the southern kingdom, also four Israelites


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OT History: 2 Chronicles 11:5 Rehoboam lived in Jerusalem and built cities (2 Chron. 2Ch iiCh ii ch 2 chr 2chr)
2 Chronicles 11:4
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