2 Chronicles 11:5

“And Rehoboam dwelt in Jerusalem, etc.] The metropolis of Judah, and the capital city of his kingdom: and built cities for defence in Judah; that is, rebuilt, enlarged, and fortified them; for otherwise they were built before, though neglected before the revolt of the ten tribes; but now it became necessary to make them more capacious and strong, to protect his people, and defend himself against Israel; for though he was forbid to act offensively, and therefore contented himself to abide in Jerusalem, and not go forth to war; yet he might lawfully put himself into a condition of defence.”

“built cities for defence in Judah--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 (Kg1 12:25). Of the fifteen cities named, Aijalon, now Yalo, and Zorah, now Surah, between Jerusalem and Jabneh [ROBINSON], lay within the province of Benjamin. Gath, though a Philistine city, had been subject to Solomon. And Etham, 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…”

“Rehoboam was between two dangers: on the north he might be attacked by Jeroboam, on the south by Jeroboam’s ally, Egypt. From this side was the greater peril, and therefore out of the 15 cities fortified, all but three were on the southern or western frontier, where Egypt would be most likely to attack. return to 'Top of Page'”

“Built - Repaired, enlarged, and fortified them. They were built before. 2 Chronicles 11:14”

“11:5-23 The Lord’s blessing on Rehoboam is demonstrated in his building activities, the defection of the faithful priests from the north to the south, the migration of the faithful in the north to Jerusalem, and his large family. 11:5-12 Rehoboam . . . fortified various towns to defend Judah from east, south, and west, protecting the valleys leading into the Judean hill country and the important crossroads. Rehoboam’s first task was to strengthen a minimal but defensible position. The defensive lines made strategic sense against an Egyptian attack, and likely began before the invasion of Pharaoh Shishak (926/925 BC).”

“am 3029-3032, bc 975-972 built: Ch2 8:2-6, Ch2 14:6, Ch2 14:7, Ch2 16:6, Ch2 17:12, Ch2 26:6, Ch2 27:4; Isa 22:8-11 2 Chronicles 11:6”

“Rehoboam's measures for the fortifying of his kingdom. - To defend his kingdom against hostile attacks, Rehoboam built cities for defence in Judah. The sing. למצור is used, because the building of cities served for the defence of the kingdom. Judah is the name of the kingdom, for the fifteen fenced cities enumerated in the following verses were situated in the tribal domains of both Benjamin and Judah. Ch2 11:6 In Judah lay Bethlehem, a small city mentioned as early as in Jacob's time ( Gen 35:19), two hours south of Jerusalem, the birthplace of David and of Christ ( Mic 5:1; Mat 2:5, Mat 2:11), now Beit-Lahm; see on Jos 15:59. Etam is not the place bearing the same name which is spoken of…”