What are the reasons for the revelation of Surat Al-Ma'idah?

Surat al-Ma'idah is also known as Surat al-Uqud (The Contracts), Surat al-Akhyar (The Righteous), and Surat al-Munqidhah (The Deliverer). It consists of 120 verses and is, by consensus, a Medinan surah. It was revealed in stages (intermittently), with the last part of it revealed in the year of the Farewell Pilgrimage, making it one of the last surahs to be revealed. It is said that some verses in it are abrogated, and Al-Qurtubi mentioned that it contains eighteen unique rulings. It was named Al-Ma'idah because of the story of the table (ma'idah) mentioned within it. It was named Al-Uqud due to the occurrence of this word at its beginning. It was named Al-Munqidhah because it delivers its reciter from the angels of punishment. And it was named Al-Akhyar due to its encouragement of fulfilling covenants.