Verses 5-12 deal with Rehoboam’s building of cities of defense in Judah. This material is not found in Kings. The cities mentioned are in the southern and western part of the country, which suggests that they were fortified as a protection against Egypt. Aggressive policies under Shishak (see 2 Chron. 12:2-9; 1 Kings 14:25, 26) were responsible for these defensive measures.