And we divided the Israelites into twelve tribes, as nations; and we revealed unto Moses when the people asked drink of him—“Strike the rock with thy staff:” and there gushed forth from it twelve fountains—the men all knew their drinking places. And we caused clouds to overshadow them, and sent down upon them the manna and the quails.…“Eat of the good things with which we have supplied you.” But it was not us whom they injured, but they injured their own selves:

And when it was said to them, “Dwell in this city, and eat therefrom what ye will, and say ‘Hittat’ (forgiveness), and enter the gate with prostrations; then will we pardon your offences,—we will give increase to the doers of good:”

But the ungodly ones among them changed that word into another than that which had been told them:³⁶ therefore sent we forth wrath out of Heaven upon them for their wrong doings.

And-³⁷ ask them about the city that stood by the sea, when its inhabitants broke the Sabbath; when their fish came to them on their Sabbath day appearing openly, but came not to them on the day when they kept no Sabbath. Thus did we make trial of them, for that they were evildoers.³⁸

And when some of them said, why warn ye those whom God would destroy or chastise with terrible chastisement? they said, For our own excuse with your Lord; and that they may fear Him.

And when they forgot their warnings, we delivered those who had forbidden evil; and we inflicted a severe chastisement on those who had done wrong, for that they were evil doers.

But when they proudly persisted in that which was forbidden, we said to them, “Become scouted apes;” and then thy Lord declared that until the day of the resurrection, he would surely send against them³⁹ (the Jews) those who should evil entreat and chastise them: for prompt is thy Lord to punish; and He is Forgiving, Merciful.

And we have divided them upon the Earth as peoples: some of them are upright and some are otherwise; and by good things and by evil things have we proved them, to the intent that they might return to us.

And they have had successors to succeed them: they have inherited the Book: they have received the passing good things of this lower world,⁴⁰ and say, “It will be forgiven us.” Yet if the like good things came to them again, they would again receive them. But hath there not been received on their part a covenant through the Scripture that they should speak nought of God but the truth? And yet they study its contents. But the mansion of the next world hath more value for those who fear God—Do ye not then comprehend?—

And who hold fast the Book, and observe prayer: verily, we will not suffer the reward of the righteous to perish.

And when we shook the mount⁴¹ over them as if it had been a shadow, and they thought it falling upon them,…“Receive, said we, with steadfastness what we have brought you, and remember what is therein to the end that ye may fear God.”

And when thy Lord brought forth their descendants from the reins of the sons of Adam and took them to witness against themselves, “Am I not,” said He, “your Lord?” They said, “Yes, we witness it.” This we did, lest ye should say on the day of Resurrection, “Truly, of this were we heedless, because uninformed;”

Or lest ye should say, “Our fathers, indeed, aforetime joined other gods with our God, and we are their seed after them: wilt thou destroy us for the doings of vain men?”

Thus make we our signs clear: that haply they may return to God.

Recite to them⁴² the history of him⁴³ to whom we vouchsafed our signs, and who departed from them, so that Satan followed him, and he became one of the seduced.