( فلما جاءتهم رسلهم بالبينات فرحوا ) رضوا ( بما عندهم من العلم ) قال مجاهد : هو قولهم نحن أعلم ، لن نبعث ولن نعذب ، سمى ذلك علما على ما يدعونه ويزعمونه وهو في الحقيقة جهل . (وحاق بهم ما كانوا به يستهزئون)
When their messengers brought clear proofs and great miracles to them, they denied them and were happy with the knowledge they had that contradicted whatever their messengers came with. So the very punishment they would mock when warned of by their messengers, came upon them.