And this request of theirs was one of presumptuous demand and stipulation, not one of willing submission; and Allah, Most High, does not send down signs at the servants’ demand.

His saying, “Yet they asked Moses for something greater than that,” means: greater than that. That is, the seventy whom Moses, peace be upon him, took with him to the mountain. “They said, ‘Show us Allah openly,’” that is, plainly before their eyes. Abu Ubaydah said: Its meaning is that they said aloud, “Show us Allah.” “So the thunderbolt seized them for their wrongdoing. Then they took the calf”—that is, as a god—“after clear proofs had come to them; yet We pardoned them for that,” and We did not utterly destroy them. It was said that this is an invitation to repentance: its meaning is that those who committed these crimes repented, so We pardoned them. Therefore, you too should repent (1), so that We may pardon you. “And We gave Moses clear authority,” that is, a manifest proof in the form of miracles—the nine signs.

“And We raised the Mount above them, by virtue of their covenant; and We said to them, ‘Enter the gate bowing humbly.’ And We said to them, ‘Do not transgress on the Sabbath.’ And We took from them a solemn covenant.” (154)