And when they did not humble themselves sincerely from their hearts, acknowledging the truth for its people as it is due, He led them on by the abundance of blessings. He said, indicating the long duration of the trial and their distancing from uncovering that trial: "Then We replaced." The manifestation of greatness supports the second possibility: "in place of" meaning: We made instead of "the evil" meaning: the affliction, "the good" meaning: the blessing. And He clarified that He extended the blessing by saying: "until they became numerous," meaning: they increased and their blessings increased, so they did not give thanks. And they said, attributing the matter to others: "Indeed, hardship has touched our forefathers," meaning: the severity, "and ease" meaning: the prosperity and blessing, believing that this is the habit of time, not the action of the chosen doer. And when they did not take heed and realize that this is from one who loves that His door not be turned away from and His side not be neglected, and they thought that this is the custom of time and the action of fate, and they continued in their corruption in times of hardship and ease, it caused His saying: "So We seized them," meaning: with Our greatness, the severest and most dreadful seizing, in the apparent and the hidden. "Suddenly," meaning: unexpectedly, so that repentance would not benefit them. And He emphasized the meaning of suddenness, affirming His matter by saying: "and they did not perceive." Thus, it is right for whoever hears this to hasten to return from every disobedience he is in, fearing the sudden seizing.