Moses (PBUH) Chose Seventy Men From His People to Meet Allah. What Was the Reason, and What Happened There?
وَاخْتَارَ مُوسَىٰ قَوْمَهُ سَبْعِينَ رَجُلًا لِّمِيقَاتِنَا. ما سبب هذا الاختيار للقاء الله وماذا حدث هناك؟
Allah made an appointment for Moses to come, bringing with him the best men among the Children of Israel, to ask Allah to accept their repentance. Moses chose seventy men from among the most pious and the elders of the Children of Israel, and returned with them to Mount Tur to apologize to Allah for worshipping the calf that Al-Samiri had made for them. They stood back watching Moses as he entered a low-lying cloud to speak with his Lord. When he finished, rather than feeling sorrow and regret, they told Moses they would not believe until they saw Allah with their own eyes.
(And ˹remember˺ when you said, "O Moses! We will never believe you until we see Allah with our own eyes," so a thunderbolt struck you while you were looking on.) Al-Baqarah 2:55
The ground shook beneath them, and the seventy men were struck by a thunderbolt, falling dead to the ground. Moses was astounded, wondering what he would say to the Children of Israel after their finest seventy men had died. He felt there was no hope left for his people, and turned to Allah.
(Moses chose seventy men from among his people for Our appointment and, when they were seized by an earthquake, he cried, "My Lord! Had You willed, You could have destroyed them long ago, and me as well. Will You destroy us for what the foolish among us have done? This is only a test from You, by which You allow whoever You will to stray and guide whoever You will. You are our Guardian. So forgive us and have mercy on us. You are the best forgiver.") Al-A'raf 7:155
When Moses pleaded with Allah for the seventy men who had been killed, Allah brought them back to life, and for many years afterward the Children of Israel wandered through the desert and wastelands.
(Then We brought you back to life after your death, so that perhaps you would be grateful.) Al-Baqarah 2:56
وقّت الله لموسى أن يأتي ومعه خيار بني إسرائيل يطلب لهم التوبة من الله. اختار موسى سبعين رجلاً من بني إسرائيل من المتدينين وكبار السن، وذهب إلى جبل الطور ليعتذروا لله على عبادتهم العجل الذي صنعه لهم السامري. وقفوا ينظرون إلى موسى حيث دخل في غيمة منخفضة وكلم ربه. وعندما انتهى، بدلاً من شعورهم بالأسف والندامة، أخبروا موسى أنهم لن يؤمنوا حتى يروا الله بأعينهم.
(وَإِذْ قُلْتُمْ يَا مُوسَىٰ لَن نُّؤْمِنَ لَكَ حَتَّىٰ نَرَى اللَّـهَ جَهْرَةً فَأَخَذَتْكُمُ الصَّاعِقَةُ وَأَنتُمْ تَنظُرُونَ) البقرة 2: 55
اهتزت الأرض تحتهم والسبعون رجلاً صُعقوا بصاعقة فوقعوا على الأرض أمواتًا. فكر موسى ماذا سيقول لبني إسرائيل بعد هلاك السبعين رجلاً الذين من المفترض أن يكونوا من خيرة القوم. شعر أنه لا أمل في بني إسرائيل فلجأ إلى الله.
(وَاخْتَارَ مُوسَىٰ قَوْمَهُ سَبْعِينَ رَجُلًا لِّمِيقَاتِنَا فَلَمَّا أَخَذَتْهُمُ الرَّجْفَةُ قَالَ رَبِّ لَوْ شِئْتَ أَهْلَكْتَهُم مِّن قَبْلُ وَإِيَّايَ أَتُهْلِكُنَا بِمَا فَعَلَ السُّفَهَاءُ مِنَّا إِنْ هِيَ إِلَّا فِتْنَتُكَ تُضِلُّ بِهَا مَن تَشَاءُ وَتَهْدِي مَن تَشَاءُ أَنتَ وَلِيُّنَا فَاغْفِرْ لَنَا وَارْحَمْنَا وَأَنتَ خَيْرُ الْغَافِرِينَ) الأعراف 7: 155
ولما توسل موسى إلى الله أحيا الله السبعين رجلاً من موتهم، وسار بنو إسرائيل تائهين في الصحراء لعدة سنوات.
(ثُمَّ بَعَثْنَاكُم مِّن بَعْدِ مَوْتِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ) البقرة 2: 56
1. Seventy of the Best, Chosen for a Specific Mission | سبعون من الخيرة اختيروا لمهمة محددة
Musa did not bring the whole community back to Mount Tur; he specifically selected seventy of the most pious and senior men to accompany him and seek forgiveness after the calf-worship repentance already carried out. This was meant to represent the community through its most trustworthy members, not a random or general gathering.
2. An Unreasonable Demand From the Chosen Few | مطلبٌ غير معقول من المختارين أنفسهم
Even having just witnessed Musa speaking directly with Allah, these hand-picked men demanded to see Allah with their own eyes before they would believe. This demand from the community's supposedly best representatives shows the same underlying pattern already seen elsewhere, a persistent insistence on physical, direct proof despite already being present for a genuine miracle.
3. Struck Down Instantly, Before Musa's Eyes | صعقٌ فوري أمام عيني موسى
A thunderbolt and earthquake struck the seventy men immediately, killing them all on the spot while Musa watched. According to the narrative, his first reaction is not theological but deeply practical, wondering what he would even say to the rest of the Children of Israel after losing their finest representatives in an instant.
4. A Desperate Plea That Ties His Own Fate to Theirs | توسلٌ يربط مصيره بمصيرهم
Musa's prayer notably includes himself in the potential destruction, "had You willed, You could have destroyed them long ago, and me as well," before asking whether Allah would destroy them all for the foolishness of only some among them. This framing binds his own standing to theirs, rather than distancing himself from his people's failure.
5. Naming It a Test, Not Random Punishment | تسميته فتنة لا عقوبة عشوائية
Musa himself interprets the event theologically within his own prayer, calling it "only a test from You, by which You allow whoever You will to stray and guide whoever You will." This framing situates even this devastating moment within Allah's deliberate plan, rather than treating it as an arbitrary disaster.
6. Revived, "So That You Might Be Grateful" | إحياؤهم "لعلكم تشكرون"
Allah answers Musa's plea by restoring the seventy men to life, and the Ayah names the explicit purpose of this second chance, so that they might be grateful. Being given life back after death was itself framed as a fresh occasion for gratitude, not simply an undoing of what had happened.
Frequently Asked Questions | الأسئلة الشائعة
Why did Moses choose seventy men to accompany him?
To represent the Children of Israel in seeking Allah's forgiveness for worshipping the golden calf.
What did the seventy men demand?
To see Allah with their own eyes before they would believe.
What happened to them after this demand?
A thunderbolt struck them, and they fell dead.
How did Moses respond to their deaths?
He pleaded with Allah, asking whether He would destroy them for the foolishness of only some among them, calling the whole event a test.
What happened after Moses's plea?
Allah brought the seventy men back to life, so that they might be grateful.