John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Chronicles 11:5
And Rehoboam dwelt in Jerusalem ,.... 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... read more
Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Chronicles 11:1-12
How the ten tribes deserted the house of David we read in the foregoing chapter. They had formerly sat loose to that family (2 Sam. 20:1, 2), and now they quite threw it off, not considering how much it would weaken the common interest and take Israel down from that pitch of glory at which it had arrived in the last reign. But thus the kingdom must be corrected as well as the house of David. 1. Rehoboam at length, like a bold man, raises an army, with a design to reduce the revolters, 2 Chron.... read more