behold, they reward us by coming to drive us out of your possession, which you have given us to inherit.
English Standard Version (ESV)
All verses
2 Chronicles 20:11
What does 2 Chronicles 20:11 mean?
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
2 Chronicles 20:11
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
Here, we see Israel framing their desperate situation not just as an attack, but as an injustice against something God Himself declared as theirs. They're reminding God that this land isn't merely territory they happen to occupy, but a divinely granted inheritance they're being robbed of. This shifts their appeal from a plea for help to a claim on God's own promises.
behold, they reward us by coming to drive us out of your possession, which you have given us to inherit.
English Standard Version (ESV)
King Jehoshaphat and Judah are facing an overwhelming invasion from multiple nations, a seemingly impossible situation that has thrown them into despair. This verse is part of Jehoshaphat's desperate prayer to God, recalling how their enemies are attacking them despite the fact that God Himself gave them this land, framing the invasion as an injustice against God's own gift. The passage immediately following describes God's powerful response and assurance of victory, emphasizing that this battle is the Lord's.
Imagine someone trying to take away something precious that was freely given to you. That's exactly the situation Judah finds themselves in. But this isn't just about land; it's about God's covenant.
A Gift, Not Earned
The people of Judah understood that the land they lived in was a gift from God. It was their inheritance, a promise sealed through a covenant with Abraham and his descendants. This wasn't a temporary loan, but a permanent possession meant to be theirs forever.
The Threat of Dispossession
The enemy's aggressive intent was clear: to drive them out. This wasn't merely a military conquest; it was an act of defiance against God Himself, attempting to usurp His sovereign decree and invalidate His promise. They were attacking not just people, but God's sworn word.
Why were these invaders so determined to take Judah's land? It wasn't just about resources; there was a deeper spiritual battle at play.
More Than Just Territory
The invaders saw the land as a prize to be conquered and possessed. But for Judah, it was a sacred trust from God. The enemy's motive was to drive them out – to eradicate their presence and, by extension, to erase the evidence of God's faithfulness and power.
Ask a follow-up
A Test of Faith
This confrontation was a severe test for Jehoshaphat and the people. Their very right to exist in the land God had given them was being challenged. Their response would reveal whether they truly believed God's promises or if their faith would crumble under pressure.
Understand the original words
yerushah · Hebrew Noun
Refers to the land or blessings that God grants to His people as a covenantal gift. In Scripture, it signifies the security, identity, and divine favor that God bestows upon those who belong to Him.
The verse highlights the deep betrayal felt by Judah's King Jehoshaphat. The invaders were not strangers, but peoples with a long history of conflict and treaties with Israel, making their hostile invasion a profound violation of trust and a direct assault on God's promised inheritance.
c. 1000 BC
David Unites Israel and Captures Jerusalem
King David establishes Jerusalem as the capital of a united Israel, driving out the Jebusites and consolidating Israel's control over the promised land.
c. 931 BC
Division of the Kingdom
Following Solomon's death, the united kingdom splits into two: the northern Kingdom of Israel and the southern Kingdom of Judah. This division weakens them both.
Late 9th Century BC
Syrian Raids on Judah
The Arameans (Syrians) under kings like Hazael conduct repeated raids into Judah, plundering the land and crippling its military strength. This creates a sense of vulnerability.
Early 9th Century BC
Jehoash Pays Tribute to Hazael
The King of Judah, Jehoash, is forced to pay a heavy tribute to Hazael of Syria to prevent further destruction of Jerusalem and the surrounding lands.
Early 9th Century BC— this verse
Invasion of Judah by Coalition
A coalition of Edomites, Moabites, and Ammonites invades Judah, seeking to conquer and possess the land. This is the specific invasion King Jehoshaphat faces.
Early 9th Century BC
Jehoshaphat's Response and Victory
King Jehoshaphat of Judah rallies his people, calls on God for deliverance, and miraculously defeats the invading coalition, securing the land.
This passage echoes the same sentiment of God giving the Promised Land to Israel, setting the stage for why they felt entitled to defend it against those who sought to take it from them.
Nehemiah 5:9This verse expresses a similar righteous indignation, where the people cry out against their oppressors for trying to rob them of their inheritance, mirroring the desperation felt in 2 Chronicles 20.
Psalm 44:10-12This lament highlights the deep sense of loss and injustice when the people's inheritance is taken, reflecting the core grievance presented in this verse about being driven out of God's given possession.
Joshua 1:2-3This foundational passage assures Israel of God's gift of the land, which directly contrasts with the threat described in 2 Chronicles 20:11, underscoring the spiritual significance of what was being threatened.
Here, we see Israel framing their desperate situation not just as an attack, but as an injustice against something God Himself declared as theirs. They're reminding God that this land isn't merely territory they happen to occupy, but a divinely granted inheritance they're being robbed of. This shifts their appeal from a plea for help to a claim on God's own promises.
King Jehoshaphat and Judah are facing an overwhelming invasion from multiple nations, a seemingly impossible situation that has thrown them into despair. This verse is part of Jehoshaphat's desperate prayer to God, recalling how their enemies are attacking them despite the fact that God Himself gave them this land, framing the invasion as an injustice against God's own gift. The passage immediately following describes God's powerful response and assurance of victory, emphasizing that this battle is the Lord's.
King Jehoshaphat and Judah are facing an overwhelming invasion from multiple nations, a seemingly impossible situation that has thrown them into despair. This verse is part of Jehoshaphat's desperate prayer to God, recalling how their enemies are attacking them despite the fact that God Himself gave them this land, framing the invasion as an injustice against God's own gift. The passage immediately following describes God's powerful response and assurance of victory, emphasizing that this battle is the Lord's.
"behold, they reward us by coming to drive us out of your possession, which you have given us to inherit." — Here, we see Israel framing their desperate situation not just as an attack, but as an injustice against something God Himself declared as theirs. They're reminding God that this land isn't merely te…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026