Entering the Promised Land is much more than a geographical conquest; it is a profound return to the spiritual roots of the Israelites. The journey involves a dual motion. On one hand, God guides the nation toward the primary resting place of His presence. On the other hand, the people actively draw near to the very source of their soul [אלשיך]. This arrival marks the initial steps into the land [העמק דבר] and is driven by immense spiritual force and power [שפתי כהן].
As the Israelites arrive, the current inhabitants must be removed. The primary approach among commentators is that this process involves a sudden uprooting, like casting away something that was firmly attached [רש״י, רשב״ם, רלב״ג, ביאור יש״ר]. It is compared to a natural, abrupt detachment, such as an iron tool slipping from its wooden handle or unripe fruit dropping from a tree [אבן עזרא]. Building on this idea, commentators offer different perspectives on how this removal actually takes place. One approach suggests that the land itself rejects the nations because they are no longer worthy. Much like a tree shedding rotten fruit to make room for a healthy new planting [רש ר הירש], this process is quick and decisive [ברכת אשר]. Alternatively, the removal is not a violent expulsion but a gradual relocation. As the Israelite settlements expand, the native populations are naturally displaced and forced to wander [העמק דבר]. A third perspective suggests a voluntary departure, noting that certain nations chose to leave the land willingly after receiving peace letters prior to any conflict [מלבי״ם, בעלי ברית אברם].
Facing seven great and mighty nations presents a challenge that defies natural logic, as the Israelites are significantly fewer and weaker than the local inhabitants [ביאור יש״ר, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Therefore, the victory must first be won on a spiritual level. The heavenly guardians of these nations are stripped of their high status, and only after their spiritual power is broken can the Israelites achieve physical victory on the ground [שפתי כהן]. Additionally, the divine light shining upon the Israelites as they enter the land will drain the strength of the opposing nations, subduing them before the physical battle even begins [אלשיך].
The ultimate goal of clearing the land is to protect the destiny of the Israelites as a holy nation. A complete separation from the influence of these nations is crucial to prevent assimilation and intermarriage, which would inevitably lead to idol worship and corrupt the education of future generations [צרור המור, רש ר הירש]. Beyond the spiritual danger, there is also a matter of national and moral dignity. Since God fights on behalf of His people to uproot such powerful empires, it would be deeply inappropriate for the victorious and holy nation to lower its standards by forming alliances or mixing with the very nations that were just expelled [אברבנאל].