Bible Strands
2 Chronicles 11:5
Rehoboam lived in Jerusalem, and he built up cities for defense in Judah.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Rehoboam obeys the divine command to cease hostilities against Jeroboam and returns home. He then establishes Jerusalem as his residence and initiates a defensive building program in Judah.
The words — The Hebrew verb יָשַׁב (yašāḇ) denotes his settled residence in Jerusalem, while בָּנָה (bānāh) describes his construction of עָרִים לְמָצוֹר (ʿārîm lə-māṣōr), literally "cities for fortification."
The thread — This defensive urbanization parallels Solomon’s rebuilding of Hiram’s cities (2 Chronicles 8:2), Rehoboam’s later political dispersal of his sons (2 Chronicles 11:23), and Asa’s subsequent fortification of Judah during peace (2 Chronicles 14:6).
Why it lands — The text records a king consolidating power and securing territory after a military withdrawal, requiring readers to observe how political strategy follows divine intervention.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
And Rehoboam dwelt in Jerusalem, and built cities for defence in Judah.
Cross-references
- 2 Chronicles 8:2 Solomon rebuilt the cities Hiram had given him and settled Israelites there.
- 2 Chronicles 11:23 Rehoboam also acted wisely by dispersing some of his sons throughout the districts of Judah and Benjamin, and to all the fortified cities. He gave them abundant provisions and sought many wives for them.
- 2 Chronicles 14:6 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.
- 2 Chronicles 16:6 Then King Asa brought all the men of Judah, and they carried away the stones of Ramah and the timbers Baasha had used for building. And with these materials he built up Geba and Mizpah.
- 2 Chronicles 17:12 Jehoshaphat grew stronger and stronger, and he built fortresses and store cities in Judah
- 2 Chronicles 26:6 Uzziah went out to wage war against the Philistines, and he tore down the walls of Gath, Jabneh, and Ashdod. Then he built cities near Ashdod and among the Philistines.
- 2 Chronicles 27:4 He also built cities in the hill country of Judah and fortresses and towers in the forests.
- Isaiah 22:8 He has uncovered the defenses of Judah. On that day you looked to the weapons in the House of the Forest.