Taberî in this section addresses the departure of Talut's army from Bayt al-Maqdis (Jerusalem), the condition of the limited number of believers who crossed the river, and makes a comparison with the number of companions at the Battle of Badr. He also explains that those who are patient will receive Allah's help, that a small group can overcome a large group by Allah's permission, and narrates the story of Talut, Goliath, and David.

وأما قوله: {فصل} فإنه يعني به شخص بالجند ورحل بهم. وأصل الفصل: القطع، يقال منه: فصل الرجل من موضع كذا وكذا، يعني به قطع ذلك، فجاوزه شاخصا إلى غيره، يفصل فصولا

According to this exegete, the text addresses several verse fragments in a scattered manner; in particular, regarding the expression 'fasl' (weaning) in Quran 2:233, which according to the majority of exegetes means 'fitam' (complete weaning), since Allah specifies the complete period of breastfeeding as two full years, it is necessary that this verse not be repetitive and should be interpreted as referring to a different situation (the permissibility of weaning before two years). However, various topics such as the departure of Talut and his army, the narrative concerning Satan, and the trial of not drinking water are also addressed consecutively.

واعلم أنه تعالى لما بين أن الحولين الكاملين هو تمام مدة الرضاع وجب حمل هذه الآية على غير ذلك حتى لا يلزم التكرار

Ibn Kathir narrates the views of Ibn Abbas, Qatadah, Ibn Shawzab, and al-Suddi regarding the verse of trial by the river: whoever took water in his palm and drank it was satiated, while whoever drank directly from the river was not satiated. Furthermore, through a narration from Bara' ibn Azib, it is mentioned that the number of the Prophet Muhammad's companions on the day of Badr was equal to the number of believers who crossed the river with Talut (three hundred and some). It is also stated that the river is the famous Sharia River between Jordan and Palestine (the Jordan River).

قال ابن جريج قال ابن عباس من اغترف منه بيده روى ومن شرب منه لم يرو وكذا رواه السدي عن أبي مالك عن ابن عباس وكذا قال قتادة وابن شوذب

According to Baydhawi, Talut tested his army with a river, informing them that whoever drank from it would not be of his followers, with only those who took a handful with their hands being excepted. Most of the soldiers did not obey this command and drank excessively from the river, while only a small group (313, according to some views 3000 or 1000 people) obeyed the order and crossed the river. While some of those who crossed the river hesitated to fight Goliath's army, a small number who had certain faith that they would meet Allah said, 'A small group can overcome a large group by Allah's permission,' and thus encouraged them.

إن الله مبتليكم بنهر معاملكم معاملة المختبر بما اقترحتموه. فمن شرب منه فليس مني فليس من أشياعي، أو ليس بمتحد معي. ومن لم يطعمه فإنه مني

According to al-Zamakhshari, the expression 'of me' is used metaphorically to mean 'a part of me' due to the person's extreme attachment and closeness to himself. This usage follows the same logic as the hadith 'whoever deceives is not of us'; because deception is not among the deeds and attributes of believers, it is said 'is not of us.'

من غشنا فليس منا

Al-Qurtubi clarifies that those who drank from the river were not removed from faith by this drinking, but were simply not counted among Talut's companions in this battle. He also explains the linguistic difference between 'talama' (to taste) and 'shariba' (to drink), referring to the jurisprudential consequences of water being considered 'ta'am' (food/sustenance), especially regarding the issue of riba (usury). Finally, he narrates the reports concerning the number of those who crossed the river and those who turned back upon seeing Goliath's army.

لم يخرجهم بذلك عن الإيمان