Yet, when they felt Our Punishment (coming), behold, they (tried to) flee from it.(2673)
2673 When they had every chance of repentance and reform, they rejected Allah's Message, and perhaps even put up an open defiance. When they actually began to feel the Wrath coming, they began to flee, but it was too late! Besides, where could they flee to from the Wrath of Allah? Hence the ironical appeal to them in the next verse: better go pack your luxuries and what you thought were your permanent homes! Cf. Christ's saying in the present Gospel of St. Matthew (3:7): "O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the Wrath to come?"