To which event does 2:59 in the Qur'an refer?

Question

2:59: But the wicked among them carried out commands other than the commands given to them. Consequently, we sent down upon the transgressors condemnation from the sky, due to their wickedness.

What happened exactly?

Answer 1

Here's the story in lay-man language

Moses (pbuh) passes the red sea with his people. Pharaoh and his people follow them then got drowned (2:50)

Moses (pbuh) left his people for 40 days and went to meet God. Some one called Alsamery told them that the calf is Moses's God & told them to worship it. (2:51)

God forgave them (2:52)

God reminds that he gave them the Torah & the criterion of right and wrong to guide them (2:53)

Moses said to his people: you have wronged yourselves by worshipping the calf. So turn in repentance to your creator and kill yourselves (the innocent kill the wrongdoers). Then God accepted their repentance (2:54)

Then they rejected Torah & told Moses that they will never believe in him until they see God plainly. Then God seized them with a thunder-bolt (lightning) while they were looking (2:55 & some other refernces)

Then Moses (pbuh) asked God to return them to Life so God did (some refernces say they were 70 that were chosen by Moses (pbuh) (2:56 & other refernces)

Then God ordered them to go to Jerusalem and fight thier enemies their and promised them to win. When they arrived, they told Moses go you and your God and fight, we'll stay here. So Moses asked God that they get lost in earth, and they got lost for 40 years. Then Moses felt sad for them, and when they asked for water, Moses asked God & God sent (Al Man) which is a kind of sweet drink, then they asked for food, so quails were sent to them, and complained about the sun, so a cloud was shading the area for them. However, they rebelled despite all of what God given them (2:57 & other resources)

Then when God told them to enter Jerusalem and eat bountifully therein with pleasure and delight wherever they wish, and enter the gate in prostration (or bowing with humility) and say: ‘Forgive us,’ and God shall forgive them (2:58)

Instead of Bowing and ask for forgiveness, they entered with another position (of their bodies) and said some words that rhymes with what they asked to say but has a different meaning. So God sent upon the wrong-doers a punishment from the heaven because of their rebelling against God’s obedience. (2:59 & other refernces)

Answer 2

Sura 2, The Heifer (Al-Baqarah)
Lack of Confidence in God: They Refuse to Enter Jerusalem

[2:58] Recall that we said, "Enter this town, where you will find as many provisions as you like. Just enter the gate humbly, and treat the people nicely. We will then forgive your sins, and increase the reward for the pious."

[2:59] But the wicked among them carried out commands other than the commands given to them. Consequently, we sent down upon the transgressors condemnation from the sky, due to their wickedness.

This is referring to the Jews and Christians....basically asking that one gives ear to the teachings of Islam. A call for submission to this doctrine and its teachings, from out of rebellion into peaceful manner.

Answer 3

I don't read the Qur'an but it would seem to me that those entrusted in teachings were not faithful to that trust and started to make up their own commands to be followed, and therefore were destroyed due to their wickedness. Sounds like this already happened. As it is written in the past tense.

Answer 4

i believe it refers to the event when Moses was told by God to take the Israelites to Jerusalem, while on the way the Israelites were eager to live in town owing to the facilities and amenities they afforded and owing also to their previous mode of living. they were bidden to go to some neighboring village where they would combine the life of the desert with that of the habitation and would be free to eat wherever they liked, as is usual in a desert place where there's no private ownership. But as this change was to bring them into contact with other people and was likely to affect their morals they were at the same time bidden to be careful about themselves and to be submissive to God.

Answer 5

The storey of Moses (pbuh) and the Jews after he led them out of Egypt. They past the sea that was opened in half for them. They were moving through Palestine and about to enter a city called Areeha today. Moses told them to say a word asking for repentance, but the ones of corrupted hearts (they wanted get out of Egypt and Pharaoh's reach/not true believers in God) twisted the word and made it sound like food. Allah is telling them that they will be punished for making fun of Moses's instruction which came from Allah.

Answer 6

http://www.alislam.org/quran/tafseer/?page=34®ion=EN&CR=
if you click on that link it shows the commentary and the background story