Imam al-Tabari's tafsir says:
وقَوْلُهُ :( فَاِسْتَغْفَرُوهُ )، يَقُولُ : اِعْمَلُوا عَمَلًا يَكُونُ سَبَبًا لِسَتْرِ اللَّهُِ عَلَيكُمْ ذُنُوبَكُمْ ، وَذَلِكَ الْإيمَانُ بِهِ ، وَإِخْلاَصُ الْعِبَادَةِ لَهُ دُونَ مَا سِوَاهُ ، واتِّبَاعُ رَسُولِهُ صَالِحٌ ،( ثُمَّ تُوبُوا إِلَيه )، يَقُولُ : ثُمَّ اُتْرُكُوا مِنَ الْأَعْمَالِ مَا يَكْرَهُهُ رَبُّكُمْ ، إِلَى مَا يَرْضَاهُ وَيُحِبُّهُ
"Regarding ('Seek his forgiveness..') it is said: Do deeds which will be a means for which God will cover and expiate your sins. That is faith in Him, and sincerity in worship to Him without anything else. And to follow His messenger, Salih. Regarding ('Then turn unto Him..') it is said: Then abandon deeds that your Lord hates, and move towards that which pleases Him and that He loves.."
So (فاستغفروه) means to seek His forgiveness and to engage in deeds that will expiate for your sins and (ثُمَّ تُوبُوا إِلَيْهِ) is to abandon the deeds for which you are seeking forgiveness, and all other iniquitous deeds. That is the only sincere way you will be turning (توبوا) to Him.
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