1)

What is the meaning of "Venashal"?

1.

Rashi: It means that Hashem will cast away.

2.

Rashbam: It means that Hashem will break (the nations) away from their source.

3.

Targum Yonasan: It means that Hashem will exile.

2)

Why does the Torah constantly change the order of the seven Cana'ani nations (See for example, Bereishis, 15:21 and Sh'mos, 3:8)?

3)

Vayikra Rabah (17:6) and the Yerushalmi (Shevi'is 6:1) say that the Girgashi fled and did not fight; the Torah omits them in Sh'mos 3:8, 23:23. If so, why are they included here seeing as they were not driven out of the land by force?

1.

Malbim: The Torah is teaching us that many of these nations fled by themselves, just like the [entire] Girgashi nation fled.

2.

Perhaps the Torah did not want to omit them, so that Yisrael should not be afraid that they will not defeat them. In Sh'mos, before Hashem decreed to kill Dor ha'Midbar, and before the Emori defeated the Ma'apilim, there was no concern for this. The Torah did not explicitly say that they will flee, for that would remove their free choice. 1 (PF)

3.

The Torah is not talking about driving out the nations by force but about separating them from the land (Refer to 7:1:1:1-3) which includes the Girgashi. 2

1

Meshech Chochmah (Sh'mos 15:2): Hashem's knowledge [of the future] does not negate free choice in the way that people's knowledge does.

2

See Ha'amek Davar.

4)

Why does the Torah insert the (otherwise superfluous) words "Shiv'ah Goyim"?

1.

A. To stress that, even though the Cana'anim outnumbered them seven to one, they need not be afraid, becsuse Hashem would uproot them all, 1 and b. to magnify the miracle.

1

See also Oznayim la'Torah.

Sefer: Perek: Pasuk:

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