And when the consideration of preference was greater, he concluded with it; indicating that he will not be made to die until his eyes are comforted by his nation in abundance; in obedience and as a blessing. He said: ﴿And We sent him﴾; meaning: with Our greatness, which nothing can withstand. And since the objective is not related to specifying those to whom he was sent; and whether they are those from whom he was absent or not; he said: ﴿to a hundred thousand﴾; and the majority hold that they are those who were sent to first; this was said by Abu Hayyan. And since the large number cannot be truly grasped by the observer; rather it becomes - even if the most observant of people asserts - he says: they are such and such; they increase a little; or they decrease it; at times he asserts that they do not decrease from such and such; as for the increase, it is possible; at times he is inclined to think that the increase is likely; and this is what is intended here; he said: ﴿or they may increase﴾; because the preference in the abundance of followers is more comforting to the eye; and more pleasing to the heart; and an understanding that the increase is a reality; and those to whom he was sent are the people of Nineveh; and they are not from his people; for the borders of the land of the Children of Israel are the Euphrates; and Nineveh is far to the east of the Euphrates.