وَرَفَعْنَا فَوْقَهُمُ الطُّورَ بِمِيثَاقِهِمْ وَقُلْنَا لَهُمُ ادْخُلُوا الْبَابَ سُجَّدًا وَقُلْنَا لَهُمْ لَا تَعْدُوا فِي السَّبْتِ وَأَخَذْنَا مِنْهُم مِّيثَاقًا غَلِيظًا (154)
(4:154) and We raised the Mount high above them and took from them a covenant *184 (to obey the commandment), and ordered them: 'Enter the gate in the state of prostration.' *185 And We said to them: 'Do not violate the law of the Sabbath', and took from them a firm covenant. *186
*184). This 'manifest commandment' refers to the commandments hichhad been handed over to Moses on tablets. (For a more detailed account of this incident see Surah al-A'raf 7, verses 143 ff.) The covenant referred to here is that which had been entered into by the representatives of Israel in the valley of Mount Sinai. (For this see Surah al-Baqarah 2: 63 and Surah al-A'raf 7l:171.)
*185). See Towards Understanding the Qur'an. vol. I, Surah 2: 58-9 and n. 75.
*186). See ibid., Surah 2: 65 and nn. 82-3.