"Or that He may seize them while they are in fear [of impending destruction]." The interpretation of al-Kalbi is: meaning, while they are in a state of depletion; that is, He tests them with hardship until they diminish and their numbers decrease.
Muhammad says: It is said, "The ages have depleted him," meaning: they have diminished him.
A poet said—describing a she-camel, and that the travel had reduced the fat of her hump after it had been firm and compact:
"The travel depleted the thick, tall hump upon her back, just as the polishing tool depletes the wood of the nab'-tree."
﴿أَو يَأْخُذهُمْ على تخوف﴾ تَفْسِيرُ الْكَلْبِيِّ: يَعْنِي: عَلَى تَنَقُّصٍ؛ أَيْ: يَبْتَلِيهِمْ بِالْجَهْدِ حَتَّى يَرْقَوْا وَيَقِلَّ عَدَدُهُمْ.
قَالَ محمدٌ: يُقَالُ: تَخَوَّفَتْهُ الدُّهُورُ؛ أَيْ: تَنَقَّصَتْهُ.
قَالَ بَعْضُ الشُّعَرَاءِ - يَصِفُ نَاقَةً - وَأَنَّ السَّيْرَ نَقْصَ سَنَامَهَا بَعْدَ تَمَكُّنِهِ وَاكْتِنَازِهِ:
(تَخَوُّفَ السَّيْرُ مِنْهَا ثَامِكًا قَرِدًا … كَمَا تَخَوَّفَ عُودَ النَّبْعَةِ السَّفَنُ﴾
