[The Almighty said:] "Have you not considered those who left their homes in the thousands?" The verse. The interpretation of Qatadah is: They were a people who fled from the plague, so Allah despised them for their fleeing from death. "And Allah said to them, 'Die,'" so Allah caused them to die as a punishment, then He resurrected them so they could complete the remainder of their lifespans.

Al-Kalbi said: They were eight thousand, so Allah caused them to die, and they remained dead for eight days.

Muhammad said: His saying "Have you not considered" is by way of expressing wonder, like His saying: "Have you not considered what so-and-so did?!"