Rehoboams Western Shephelah Defensive Ring at Adoraim

2 Chronicles 11:5-12 records the comprehensive defensive strategy King Rehoboam adopted after the ten northern tribes broke away to follow Jeroboam in 930 BCE. With the unified kingdom suddenly cut in half and threatened from both the north (the new state of Israel) and the southwest (Egypt under Pharaoh Shishak), Rehoboam ringed Jerusalem with fifteen fortified cities. The Chronicler lists them by region: the southern arc included Bethlehem, Etam, Tekoa, and the Hebron group; the western Shephelah arc included Soco, Adullam, Lachish, Azekah, Zorah, Aijalon, and Adoraim; with Mareshah, Ziph, Gath, and Beth-zur completing the southern and western flanks.

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