Standing at the threshold of Canaan marks a profound historical and spiritual turning point for the Israelites. Knowing he will not cross with them, Moses transfers the weight of responsibility to the people. Stepping into the new land is not merely a change of geography; it is a moment to forge a new covenant and immediately begin fulfilling God's laws [ביאור יש״ר]. In fact, observing these laws is the sole purpose of receiving the territory, and it is this obedience that will ultimately determine whether their new home brings a blessing or a curse [רש ר הירש].
The specific act of crossing the Jordan River carries deep significance. The primary approach among commentators is that the open miracles surrounding the crossing—specifically the splitting of the waters—serve as an immediate, clear sign that the Israelites will successfully inherit the land [רש״י, משכיל לדוד, גור אריה, מזרחי, שפתי חכמים]. These miracles serve a vital dual purpose: they strike terror into the hearts of the Canaanite kings while simultaneously strengthening the Israelites' faith in God, thereby smoothing the path for the conquest [רלב״ג]. Another perspective frames the crossing as a dramatic condition. The waters part solely so the people can conquer the land; if they fail to fulfill this mission, the river will return and wash them away [אדרת אליהו].
Taking possession of the territory is entirely dependent on keeping God's laws. For this reason, the Israelites are commanded to conduct a grand ceremony of blessing and curse at Mount Gerizim and Mount Ebal the moment they arrive. This public declaration reinforces that their grip on the land hinges on their obedience [מלבי״ם]. The sheer scale of this ceremony is designed to stir deep emotion, creating an unforgettable memory in the minds of the people [העמק דבר]. Furthermore, their right to the territory is tied to their spiritual standing. Had they been perfectly righteous, the land would have been granted simply by their own merit. However, because of past failures, they must actively work to uproot idolatry from the region in order to secure their existence there [חתם סופר].
The final outcome of taking over and settling the land operates on both a spiritual and a practical level. Spiritually, the very act of taking possession earns the Israelites the right to live there in safety. From a legal standpoint, settling the land is not a passive experience. It requires establishing formal ownership through concrete actions. By actively improving the property—such as building fences or repairing broken walls—they legally and fully claim the land as their own [תורה תמימה, אדרת אליהו].