[Pharaoh] said, 'Then what is the state of the former generations?' The meaning is: Moses called him to believe in the Resurrection, so Pharaoh said to him, 'Then what is the state of the former generations, that they have perished and have not been resurrected?'
﴿قَالَ فَمَا بَالُ الْقُرُونِ الأُولَى﴾ الْمَعْنَى: دَعَاهُ مُوسَى إِلَى الْإِيمَانِ بِالْبَعْثِ، فَقَالَ لَهُ فِرْعَونُ: فَمَا بَالُ الْقُرُونِ الْأُولَى قَدْ هَلَكَتْ فَلم تبْعَث
