Al-Kalbī and al-Ḍaḥḥāk said: David ruled for seven years after Saul was killed. The Children of Israel had never united under a single king except David. This is the meaning of His saying, exalted is He: “And Allah gave him kingship and wisdom”—that is, prophethood. Allah combined kingship and prophethood for David, whereas this had not occurred before: kingship had been in one tribe and prophethood in another. It is also said that kingship and wisdom mean knowledge coupled with action.

His saying, exalted is He: “And He taught him whatever He willed”: al-Kalbī and others said that this means the craft of making coats of mail. He would make and sell them, and he ate only from the work of his own hands. It is also said that He taught him the language of birds, the speech of the ḥukl birds (1), and ants, as well as eloquent speech. It is also said that it was the Zabur (Psalms); and it is said that it was a beautiful voice and melodious chants. Allah gave none of His creatures a voice like his. Whenever he recited the Zabur, wild beasts would draw near until he could take them by their necks; birds would shade him as they listened attentively to him; flowing water (2) would become still; and the wind would grow calm.

Al-Ḍaḥḥāk related from Ibn ʿAbbās, may Allah be pleased with him, that Allah, exalted is He, gave David a chain connected to the Milky Way, with one end at his hermitage. Its strength was that of iron, its color the color of fire, and its round links were set with jewels and joined by rods of fresh pearls. No occurrence would take place in the air without the chain rattling, and David would thus know of that occurrence. No afflicted person touched it without being cured.

After David, peace be upon him, people continued to bring their disputes before it until it was raised away. Whoever wronged his fellow and denied him a right would come to the chain: whoever was truthful could stretch out his hand to it and take hold of it, whereas whoever was lying could not reach it. This continued until deceit and trickery became widespread among them.

We have been told that one of their kings entrusted a man ⦗44/a⦘ with a precious jewel. When he demanded it back, the man denied having it, so the two brought their case before the chain. The man who had the jewel took a walking stick, hollowed it out, placed the jewel inside it, and leaned on it until he came to the chain. The owner of the jewel said, “Return my deposit to me.” His companion replied, “I do not know of any deposit of yours in my possession. If you are truthful, then take hold of the chain.” So the owner took hold of it with his hand.

Then the denier was told, “Now you stand and take hold of it.” He said to the owner of the jewel, “Take this walking stick of mine and keep it for me until I take hold of the chain.” The man took it and held it. Then the denier went toward the chain and took hold of it. He said, “O Allah, if You know that this deposit which he claims from me has indeed reached him, then bring the chain near me.” He stretched out his hand and took hold of it. The people were astonished and became doubtful about it; then, by morning, Allah had raised the chain away.

His saying, exalted is He: “Were it not for Allah’s repelling some people by means of others”: the people of Medina and Yaʿqūb read it here and in Surat al-Ḥajj as difāʿ Allāh (“Allah’s repelling”), with an alif, while the others read it without the alif, because no one can overcome Allah and He alone is the One who repels. Those who read it with an alif said that difāʿ may also come from a single person, as in the Arabs’ expression: “May Allah grant you excellent protection.”

Ibn ʿAbbās and Mujāhid said: Were it not for Allah’s repelling through the armies of the Muslims, the polytheists would prevail over the earth, kill the believers, and destroy the mosques and settlements. The rest of the exegetes said: Were it not for Allah’s repelling the disbelievers and wicked through the believers and the righteous, the earth and all who are in it would perish. But Allah