And if We had written upon them that they should kill themselves, meaning if We had made obligatory upon them what We made obligatory upon the Children of Israel, to kill themselves or to leave their homes when they were called to repent from the worship of the calf, they would not have done it except for a few of them. And this is a great reproach. The raising is in substitution for the 'and' in: (they did it). And it was recited: except for a few, in the accusative as the original of the exception, or based on 'except' as a few actions that they are admonished with regarding following the Messenger of Allah, blessings and peace be upon him, and obeying him, and submitting to what he sees and judges, for he is the truthful and trustworthy one who does not speak from desire. It would have been better for them in their present and future, and it would have been a greater confirmation for their faith and further from confusion in it. And then, it is an answer to a hypothetical question, as if it were said: and what would happen to them after the confirmation? It was said: And if they had been steadfast, We would have certainly given them, for 'and then' is an answer and a reward from Us, a great reward, as His saying: (and He will give from Us a great reward) indicates that it is intended as a gift granted from Him and is called a reward, because it is contingent upon the reward and does not remain except with its steadfastness. (And We would have guided them) and We would have been kind to them and granted them success in increasing good things.