The fulfillment of God's promise to the forefathers did not end with the liberation from Egyptian slavery. It reached its peak when He granted the Israelites a tangible, wealthy homeland. Fulfilling His covenant and oath to Abraham, God transferred the territories and vast wealth of the Canaanites and their neighboring nations directly to the Israelites [רד״ק, אבן עזרא, מלבי״ם, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. The specific groups displaced were nations bound by defined, yet deeply corrupt, religious practices. Because of this profound moral corruption, they forfeited their right to their possessions [מלבי״ם].
The wealth they left behind was the product of immense toil, encompassing ready-to-use assets like fully built houses, thriving vineyards, and mature olive groves [אבן עזרא, ביאור שטיינזלץ, מצודת ציון]. The Israelites assumed control of these resources peacefully, much like a person comfortably receiving an estate from their predecessors [מאירי]. Even the forty years spent wandering in the desert served a practical purpose in this transition. This delay gave the Canaanites time to replant trees they had previously uprooted, ensuring that when the Israelites finally arrived, the land was overflowing with abundance and completely ready for settlement [מלבי״ם].
A careful distinction is made regarding how these different assets were transferred. The land itself was granted as a conditional gift. Because a gift can be revoked, the Israelites faced the risk of losing the territory and being sent into exile if they failed to maintain proper conduct. In contrast, the physical wealth and resources were taken as an absolute inheritance. This transfer of wealth was permanent, as the Israelites completely consumed and utilized the riches left behind by the previous inhabitants [אלשיך].
Ultimately, the granting of this rich territory and its abundant resources served as a prelude to a higher purpose: the observance of the Torah and its Commandments. God deliberately structured events so that the Israelites received their reward and prosperity in advance, even before they could actively fulfill the commandments within the land. This preemptive goodness was designed to awaken their gratitude and inspire them to faithfully keep His laws [תורה תמימה, מלבי״ם].