'And throw down your staff.' That is: so I may show you in it a sign. And when the estimation was: so he threw it down and it immediately became a great serpent, and despite its greatness, it was extremely light. He built upon this his saying: 'So when he saw it,' meaning the staff, 'moving as if it were a serpent,' meaning in its swiftness and lightness, 'he turned to flee,' out of fear of it and did not look back towards it. This is the meaning of his saying: 'and did not turn back,' meaning Musa, blessings and peace be upon him. And that is a metaphor for the intensity of his determination to flee and to hurry in it out of fear of being caught. Then it was said to him: 'O Musa, come forward,' meaning: turn and approach it, 'and do not be afraid.' Then he confirmed the command to him because the human is naturally inclined to flee, even if he believes the report to be true, by saying: 'Indeed, you are among those who are safe,' meaning: firmly established in safety, like your brothers among the messengers.