Common ground

All exegetes address the verse within the framework of the salvation of the Children of Israel from Pharaoh and this being a divine blessing. Taberî and Beydâwî agree that the sea was divided into twelve paths according to the number of the twelve tribes. Taberî, Kurtubî, and Beydâwî converge on the point that the expression 'while you were looking' can mean the actual seeing with eyes of the scene of Pharaoh and his army drowning. Ibn Kesîr and Beydâwî both emphasize that despite this incident being one of the great blessings given to the Children of Israel, they were unable to properly appreciate this blessing through their subsequent behavior of ingratitude and calf worship; this also aligns with Kurtubî's emphasis on failure to take admonition. In general, both transmitted reports and linguistic analysis have been used together.

Differences

Taberî definitively interprets the expression 'looking' as actual vision with the eyes (direct perception) and explicitly rejects the Basran linguists' metaphorical or distant knowledge interpretation; he enters into a linguistic polemic on this issue. Kurtubî, meanwhile, presents multiple interpretations regarding the same expression (actual seeing, seeing with the eye of insight and admonition, being in a state of opportunity to see) side by side and discusses contextual harmony rather than making a definitive choice. Beydâwî also lists multiple meaning possibilities (the drowning scene, the drying of the sea, the appearance of corpses, looking at one another) but does not make a sharp linguistic refutation like Taberî. Râzî, without entering into these details, focuses on the multifaceted nature of the verse in the context of blessings (deliverance from fear, destruction of the enemy, proof of the miracle) and makes a particular refutation by rejecting the interpretation of the word 'furqan' as the Qur'an, thereby making a linguistic/theological correction. Ibn Kesîr, by contrast, places greater emphasis on transmitted reports rather than interpretation; he concentrates on historical-transmitted details such as Moses' staff, the questioning of Joshua son of Nun, and the incident of the Day of Ashura, and does not engage in linguistic discussions. These differences partly stem from the methodological inclinations of the exegetes: although Taberî is primarily oriented toward transmitted reports, he also engages in linguistic discussions; Râzî brings forward the theological/rhetorical approach; Kurtubî displays a pluralistic/probabilistic stance; Ibn Kesîr remains faithful to the Salafi transmitted methodology; Beydâwî follows a summary and synthetic exegetical tradition.

Historical context

The earliest exegete, Taberî (3rd/9th century), uses both transmitted reports and linguistic discussion together to present a definitive interpretation and directly participates in the linguistic discussions of his time (polemics with the Basran school). Râzî (6th/12th century), in a later period, brings forward the theological and rhetorical aspect, broadening the meaning of the verse; he shifts from literal details to a conceptual framework (theory of blessings). Kurtubî (7th/13th century) presents an encyclopedic/jurisprudential method that brings together multiple views, displaying a more cautious and synthetic stance. Ibn Kesîr (8th/14th century) represents a return to the Salafi method; relying more on hadith and transmitted chains rather than linguistic discussions, he offers a transmitter-oriented reading. Beydâwî (late 7th/13th century), as an example of the summary exegesis tradition, synthesizes and briefly conveys earlier views, avoiding making sharp choices. Thus, methodological diversity increased over time; while there was a balance between transmitted reports and linguistics in the early period, in later periods different inclinations became evident such as theological deepening (Râzî), pluralistic synthesis (Kurtubî, Beydâwî), or return to transmitted reports (Ibn Kesîr). However, the basic framework of the story (twelve paths, drowning, blessing motif) remained constant throughout all periods.