[324] The commentators add that this plant withered the next morning, and that Jonah being much concerned at it God made a remonstrance to him in behalf of the Ninevites, agreeably to what is recorded in Scripture.—S.
[325] When he first began to exhort them to repentance, instead of hearkening to him, they used him very ill, so that he was obliged to leave the city, threatening them at his departure that they should be destroyed within three days, or, as others say, within forty. But when the time drew near, and they saw the heavens overcast with a black cloud which shot forth fire and filled the air with smoke and hung directly over the city, they were in a terrible consternation, and getting into the fields, with their families and cattle, they put on sackcloth and humbled themselves before God, calling aloud for pardon and sincerely repenting of their past wickedness. Whereupon God was pleased to forgive them, and the storm blew over.—S. (B., Jelál, A.F.)
[326] ´Imrán, as observed by Sale, is the name of two several persons according to the Muslims: one was the father of Moses and Aaron, and the other was the father of the Virgin Mary. The latter is here meant, and his wife’s name was Hannah.
[327] Or the devil driven away with stones.—See note [1], p. 7.
[328] And for this reason, they say, neither of them was guilty of any sin, like the rest of the children of Adam.—S. (Ḳatádeh.)
[329] That is, between thirty, or thirty-four, and fifty-one: and the passage may relate to Christ’s preaching here on earth. But as he had scarce attained this age when he was taken up into heaven, the commentators choose to understand it of his second coming.—S.
[330] The age of the Virgin Mary at the time of her conception was thirteen, or, as others say, ten; and she went six, seven, eight, or nine months with him, according to different traditions; though some say the child was conceived at its full growth of nine months, and that she was delivered of him within an hour after.—S. (B., Yahya.)
[331] Some say the Virgin Mary had really a brother named Aaron, who had the same father but a different mother: others suppose Aaron the brother of Moses is here meant, but say Mary is called his sister either because she was of the Levitical race, (as, by her having been related to Elizabeth, it should seem she was,) or by way of comparison: others say that it was a different person of that name who was contemporary with her and conspicuous for his good or bad qualities, and that they likened her to him either by way of commendation or of reproach.—S. (B., Z., &c.)
[332] These were the first words which were put into the mouth of Jesus, to obviate the imagination of his partaking of the divine nature or having a right to the worship of mankind on account of his miraculous speaking so soon after his birth.—S. (B.)
[333] It is related in the spurious Gospel of the Infancy of Christ that Jesus being seven years old and at play with several children of his age, they made several figures of birds and beasts of clay for their diversion; and each preferring his own workmanship, Jesus told them that he would make his walk and leap; which accordingly at his command they did. He made also several figures of sparrows and other birds, which flew about or stood on his hands as he ordered them, and also ate and drank when he offered them meat and drink. The children, telling this to their parents, were forbidden to play any more with Jesus, whom they held to be a sorcerer.—S.