فَبَدَّلَ الَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا قَوْلًا غَيْرَ الَّذِي قِيلَ لَهُمْ فَأَنزَلْنَا عَلَى الَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا رِجْزًا مِّنَ السَّمَاءِ بِمَا كَانُوا يَفْسُقُونَ
But the wrongdoers changed the saying with other than what they were told. So We sent down on those who were wrongdoers a plague from the sky because of the transgressions they used to commit.
Agha Ali Puya Commentary
Commentary on Quran 2:59
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 2:59] The Bani Israil changed the saying (hitta - pardon) which had been spoken to them for another saying (hinta-wheat), also mentioned in verses 161 and 162 of al Araf. Those who unjustly change the word or covenant or command of Allah for something other than the original, are duly punished. "Thus the plague which had attacked the Israelites was brought to a stop; but twenty-four thousand had already died." (Number 25: 9) Those who do not pay attention to the declaration of the Holy Prophet (I am the city of knowledge and Ali is its gate) suffer spiritual degradation and go astray. (see commentary for verse 4)