2 Chronicles 20 11

2 Chronicles 20:11 kjv

Behold, I say, how they reward us, to come to cast us out of thy possession, which thou hast given us to inherit.

2 Chronicles 20:11 nkjv

here they are, rewarding us by coming to throw us out of Your possession which You have given us to inherit.

2 Chronicles 20:11 niv

See how they are repaying us by coming to drive us out of the possession you gave us as an inheritance.

2 Chronicles 20:11 esv

behold, they reward us by coming to drive us out of your possession, which you have given us to inherit.

2 Chronicles 20:11 nlt

Now see how they reward us! For they have come to throw us out of your land, which you gave us as an inheritance.

2 Chronicles 20 verses

2 Chronicles 20 11 Meaning

This verse is King Jehoshaphat's impassioned plea to God during a national crisis, highlighting the grave injustice inflicted by the invading armies of Moab, Ammon, and Mount Seir. It emphasizes that these enemies are repaying Judah's previous non-aggression with hostility, seeking to expel them from the very land which God Himself, by His sovereign will and covenant promise, had granted to His people as an eternal inheritance. The core meaning underscores divine ownership of the land and God's faithfulness to His promises, positioning the invasion as a direct affront to God's established order.

2 Chronicles 20 11 Context

Chapter 20 of 2 Chronicles narrates a pivotal moment during King Jehoshaphat's reign. Judah faces an overwhelming invasion from a vast coalition of armies: Moabites, Ammonites, and Meunites. Upon receiving the news, Jehoshaphat is afraid, yet immediately sets his heart to seek the Lord and proclaims a fast throughout all Judah. This public call for prayer and repentance leads to the entire population gathering in the temple court. The verse, 2 Chronicles 20:11, forms part of Jehoshaphat's desperate but faith-filled prayer (20:5-12). In this prayer, he acknowledges God's supreme power (v.6), appeals to God's covenant with Israel and the promise of the land (v.7-8), recalls the purpose of the Temple for seeking help (v.9), and describes the current grave injustice (v.10-11) before concluding with an expression of utter human helplessness and complete reliance on God (v.12). Historically, the Ammonites and Moabites were descendants of Lot, related to Israel. God had explicitly commanded Israel, during their exodus, not to dispossess these nations of their land, as those lands had been given to them by God (Dt 2:9, 19). Jehoshaphat's plea implicitly points to this, highlighting the extreme ingratitude and hostile act of these nations returning evil for the previous peace, thereby challenging God's authority over the land He had given to Israel.

2 Chronicles 20 11 Word analysis

• Behold: The Hebrew term is hinneh (הִנֵּה). It functions as an interjection, meaning "look" or "listen." Here, it dramatically draws God's attention to the specific grievance, signaling a crucial point in the plea. It intensifies the gravity of the statement that follows.
• how they reward us: The Hebrew word for "reward" is gemul (גְּמוּל), meaning "recompense," "retribution," or "dealing." It can be either positive or negative. In this context, it's used with stark irony. It implies that these nations are giving Judah a hostile recompense, or ill-repayment, despite Judah (or Israel) having respected God's command not to trespass on their inherited lands (Dt 2:9, 19). It conveys an active sense of injustice—they are "doing us a great injustice," "showing us how they deal with us."
• by coming: Implies an active, deliberate, and aggressive movement. It emphasizes the present, direct nature of the invasion. They are not merely contemplating it, but are actively in the process of attacking.
• to drive us out: The Hebrew verb is garash (גָּרַשׁ), meaning "to drive out," "expel," or "dispossess." This verb is often used in the context of driving out the Canaanites before Israel. Here, it signifies the invaders' intent to violently remove God's people from their established place. This directly contradicts God's previous actions and promises to settle His people in the land.
• of Your possession: The Hebrew is yerushshah (יְרֻשָּׁה), meaning "possession" or "inheritance." This is a profoundly significant phrase. By stating "Your possession," Jehoshaphat shifts the ownership of the land from merely Israel's to God's. It elevates the conflict beyond a territorial dispute into a challenge against God's sovereignty. The land does not merely belong to Judah; it belongs to Yahweh, who holds ultimate claim.
• which You have given us: This highlights God's active role as the Giver. It connects the current predicament directly to God's covenant faithfulness and generosity. The land was not conquered by human might alone but was a divine gift.
• to inherit: The Hebrew verb is nahal (נָחַל), meaning "to inherit," "to possess," or "to receive as an inheritance." It speaks of receiving something as an entitlement, a permanent possession passed down. This underscores the perpetual nature of the land grant to Israel, emphasizing that their presence there is a result of God's unchanging promise.

Words-group analysis

• "how they reward us by coming to drive us out": This phrase encapsulates the acute sense of betrayal and injustice. It highlights the enemy's aggressive "repayment" for Judah's prior (implied) non-hostility, seeking to forcibly evict them. The use of "reward" is deeply ironic, pointing to a negative return for what should have been mutual respect.
• "out of Your possession, which You have given us to inherit": This constitutes the theological core of Jehoshaphat's appeal. By emphasizing "Your possession," he grounds the right to the land in God's supreme authority and ownership, not human might. "Given us to inherit" roots this ownership in the Abrahamic covenant, underscoring that the invaders are not just attacking Judah, but are assaulting God's divine provision and His sworn covenant promises to His people.

2 Chronicles 20 11 Bonus section

• Rhetorical Device: Jehoshaphat's use of a rhetorical question "Behold, how they reward us...?" serves not as an interrogation of God but as a fervent plea, designed to highlight the blatant affront to divine justice and order before the very throne of God. It functions as an appeal for divine judgment against an unjust aggression.
• Principle of Imputation: By calling the land "Your possession," Jehoshaphat imputes the problem to God. This powerful move is a common biblical theme where, when believers are attacked because of their identity in God or their connection to God's purposes, the attack is viewed as directed against God Himself. This forms the basis for God's defense of His people.
• God's Jealousy for His Inheritance: This verse evokes the concept that God is zealous and protective of what is His, including His land and His people. The enemies are not merely conquering a territory; they are trespassing on God's divine will and promise, prompting His righteous intervention.

2 Chronicles 20 11 Commentary

2 Chronicles 20:11 is a profound declaration of trust in God's covenant faithfulness amidst human helplessness. King Jehoshaphat, faced with an overwhelming enemy, articulates the precise nature of the injustice to God: the invaders are attacking God's own property and His people, whom He had sovereignly gifted the land as an inheritance. This transforms the human conflict into God's battle, as His honor and faithfulness are directly challenged. It's a strategic appeal to God's character and past actions, invoking His authority as the owner and giver of the land. This plea sets the stage for God's miraculous intervention, demonstrating that when His people recognize His ultimate ownership and rely on His promises, He fights on their behalf, turning human impossibility into divine victory.