⁵And Rehoboam dwelt in Jerusalem, and built cities for defence in Judah.
5. built cities for defence] This does not mean that all these cities were then built for the first time; certainly Beth-lehem, Tekoa, and Hebron were ancient places. Rebuilding, strengthening, and fortifying are included in the meaning of the Hebrew verb bānāh = build. The cities mentioned were situated some in the hill country of Judah, some in the Shephelah. It is probable that they were strengthened as a measure of defence against Egypt. Less likely is the suggestion that they were fortified chiefly to prevent or suppress insurrection against Rehoboam in Judah. See also Introduction § 7, p. [xlviii.]
⁶He built even Beth-lehem, and Etam, and Tekoa,
6. Etam] Probably represented by some ruins a little to the south-west of Beth-lehem, by which is a spring called Ain ‘Atān. Compare 1 Chronicles iv. 3. Bädeker, Palestine⁵, p. 109.
⁷and Beth-zur, and Soco, and Adullam,
7. Beth-zur] Represented by the ruin Burj Ṣūr to the north of Hebron. Compare Joshua xv. 58. Bädeker, Palestine⁵, p. 112.
Soco] The cities hitherto mentioned were situated in the hill country, but the position of the Soco here mentioned and Adullam is uncertain. Two places bore the name Soco or Socoh, one situated in the Shephelah (Joshua xv. 35; 1 Samuel xvii. 1, Revised Version), and one in the hill country (“the mountains,” Joshua xv. 48)—see note 1 Chronicles iv. 18. For Adullam compare Joshua xv. 35; 1 Chronicles xi. 15 (note on the cave of Adullam).
⁸and Gath, and Mareshah, and Ziph,
8. Gath] compare 1 Chronicles xviii. 1.
Mareshah] In the Shephelah south of the modern Beit Jibrin. Compare xiv. 9, xx. 37.