Summary
Rehoboam, upon returning to Jerusalem, is commanded by God through the prophet Shemaiah to halt his campaign against Israel and let the soldiers return home. He obeys and remains in Jerusalem, where he builds and fortifies numerous cities in Judah and Benjamin, equipping them with weapons, supplies, and captains. The Levites, previously excluded by Jeroboam’s reign, come back to Judah to serve God’s priesthood. In the following years the kingdom is strengthened as people walk in the ways of David and Solomon. Rehoboam’s marriages and the distribution of his many sons across the fortified cities further consolidate his rule. The chapter emphasizes divine guidance, the importance of loyalty to God, and the strategic defense of the nation.