59:2

[Mubashir]

Salam Friends

59:2 [Asad] He it is who turned out of their homes, at the time of [their] first gathering [for war], such of the followers of earlier revelation as were bent on denying the truth. You did not think [O believers] that they would depart [without resistance] - just as they thought that their strongholds would protect them against God: but God came upon them in a manner which they had not expected, and cast terror into their hearts; [and thus] they destroyed their homes by their own hands as well as the hands of the believers. Learn a lesson, then, O you who are endowed with insight!

Question: The People of the Book believe in God. Why would they, then, think that they needed protected against God?
One would think  that their strongholds would protect them against their enemies? Or does it mean that their stronghold would protect them against the Muslim God (who they, perhaps, thought was different than theirs)?
 

[HOPE]

Peace brother Mubashir,

Question: The People of the Book believe in God. Why would they, then, think that they needed protected against God?
One would think  that their strongholds would protect them against their enemies? Or does it mean that their stronghold would protect them against the Muslim God (who they, perhaps, thought was different than theirs)?

I think by opposing the Prophet they were striving against His cause.  59:11 says there were some who have disbelieved among the people of the scripture and they joined forces with the hypocrites breaking their agreement with the prophet to stay neutral.

[Mubashir]

Peace Hope

Sometimes translations lose proper meaning. The Jews believed in God and knew what He can do but still believed that their strongholds would protect them from Him??

Unless one assumes that  although they knew that Muhammad (S) believed in the same God still and was His Messenger, they decided, for worldly/tribal reasons to join with the enemies of the Muslims and oppose him.