۞ Bethinkest thou not of those who went forth from their habitations, and they were in their thousands, to escape death? Then Allah said unto them: die and thereafter quickened them. Verily Allah is Gracious unto men; albeit most men give not thanks. 243 Fight, then, in God's cause, and know that God is all-hearing, all-knowing. 244 Who is he that will lend to Allah a goodly loan so that He may multiply it to him many times? And it is Allah that decreases or increases (your provisions), and unto Him you shall return. 245 Have you not heard of what the chiefs of the Children of Israel demanded of one of their prophets after Moses? They said, "Appoint for us a king, and we will fight for the cause of God." He replied, "What if you refuse to fight, when ordered to do so?" "Why should we not fight for the cause of God," they replied, "when we have been driven forth from our homes and our children?" But when at last they were commanded to fight, they all refused, except a few of them. God knows the wrongdoers. 246 And their Prophet said to them, “Indeed Allah has sent Talut (Saul) as your king”; they said, “Why should he have kingship over us whereas we deserve the kingship more than he, and nor has he been given enough wealth?” He said, “Indeed Allah has chosen him above you, and has bestowed him with vast knowledge and physique”; and Allah may bestow His kingdom on whomever He wills; and Allah is Most Capable, All Knowing. 247 And their prophet said unto them: verily the sign of his dominion is that there shall come unto you the ark wherein is tranquillity from your Lord and the relic of that which the household of Musa and the household of Harun had left, the angels bearing it; verily, herein is a sign for you if ye are believers. 248