This text states that the Children of Israel, under the leadership of Talut and with the help granted by Allah, defeated their enemies, and then both kingship and prophethood (after Samuel) were given to David. Allah's repelling of some communities through others is a requirement of divine wisdom and order; had this repelling not occurred, the earth would have fallen into corruption and the strong would have destroyed the weak. This situation is exemplified by the Children of Israel being saved from destruction thanks to Talut's military prowess and David's valor.

لولا أنه يدفع بقوم عن قوم ويكف شرور أناس عن غيرهم بما يخلقه ويقدره من الأسباب لفسدت الأرض وأهلك القوي الضعيف

According to this text, when the Children of Israel encountered Goliath and his army, they prayed to Allah for patience, steadfastness, and victory, and Allah made them victorious. The story of David killing Goliath is related; it is narrated how David, while young and a shepherd, heard three stones speak to him and inform him that he would kill Goliath with them. Subsequently, Allah gave David kingship (rule over the Children of Israel), wisdom (prophethood), and knowledge as He pleased (such as the language of birds). Finally, the principle in the verse of 'Allah repelling people through one another' is explained as Allah making Muslims victorious over disbelievers and preventing corruption on earth.

التجؤوا إلى الله سبحانه وتعالى بالدعاء، وفيه ترتيب بليغ إذ سألوا أولا إفراغ الصبر في قلوبهم الذي هو ملاك الأمر، ثم ثبات القدم في مداحض الحرب المسبب عنه، ثم النصر على العدو المترتب عليهما غالبا.

Taberî explains the 'repelling' (daf') mentioned in this verse as Allah repelling people through one another; such as repelling the polytheists through Muslims and the oppressors through those who defend the oppressed. Different views have been reported: some interpret it as polytheists being repelled by Muslims, some as fighting and jihad, and some as the Companions of the Messenger protecting those who came after them (the followers). Taberî states that among these views, the most sound is that Allah repels people through one another, that is, prevents the oppression of the oppressed by the oppressors.

أن يقال: إن الله تعالى ذكره أخبر أنه لولا دفاعه الناس بعضهم ببعض، لهدم ما ذكر

According to this exegete, due to the 'waw' letter in the verse between the defeat that occurred with Talut and his army and David killing Goliath not expressing sequence, a definite priority-succession relationship is not understood from the text. Furthermore, two views are reported regarding Allah giving David kingship and prophethood: according to some, this is in return for the great obedience he displayed and his willingness to sacrifice himself in the way of Allah; according to the majority, prophethood is not given in return for deeds; this is entirely from Allah's grace and favor. Finally, it is stated that the expression 'Allah repelling people through one another' is related to preventing corruption on earth and constitutes strong evidence regarding the falsity of the determinism view.

قال القاضي : هذه الآية من أقوى ما يدل على بطلان الجبر

According to Kurtubî, the verse 'daf'' (repelling) informs that Allah's repelling the evil of disbelievers through believers is a grace and blessing. This repelling occurs through fighting and jihad commanded to the prophets and believers; had this not happened, the polytheists would have prevailed and the places of worship of the religions would have been destroyed. Furthermore, this repelling has also been explained through the religious laws that Allah established through the tongues of prophets, thereby preventing people from plundering and destroying one another.

بين سبحانه أن دفعه بالمؤمنين شر الكافرين فضل منه ونعمة