כניסה לארץ, סילוק עבודה זרה, וישיבה בארץ ישראל

Hashem speaks to Moshe in the plains of Moav, by the Jordan near Yereicho, saying—this is the setting where Hashem gives these instructions to Moshe.

Hashem commands Moshe to speak to the Bnei Yisroel and say to them: "For you are passing through the Jordan to the land of Kanaan." The teacher notes that the Torah uses a duplicate expression here, Daber el Bnei Yisroel veAmarta aleihem, which sometimes Rashi comments on, sometimes not. The main point is that Hashem is telling them they are about to cross into Eretz Kanaan.

Rashi asks: Why does the Torah repeat this command to chase out the inhabitants of the land, when they have already been warned about this many times? The answer is that Moshe is telling them specifically now, at this moment, because there is a special condition attached to their crossing the Jordan.

Moshe tells the people: When you cross the Jordan on dry land, it is on this condition that you are crossing. If you do not fulfill the condition—meaning, if you do not drive out the inhabitants—then the waters will come and flood you. The miracle of the Jordan stopping for them to cross was conditional on their intent to fulfill Hashem's command.

We also find that Yehoshua told them the same thing while they were still in the Jordan. The teacher references the book of Yehoshua, where Yehoshua tells the people these words as they are crossing, reinforcing that this was a condition for their safe passage.

"And you shall drive out all the inhabitants of the land from before you, and destroy all their places of worship, all their images of molten gods, and all their high places you shall destroy." The teacher explains that they are commanded to chase away the people and to destroy all their idols and places of worship, including their temples and high places used for sacrifices.

Rashi explains that VeHorash'tem means "and you shall drive out"—specifically, to chase away the inhabitants of the land.

Rashi explains Maskiyosam as the Targum translates it: "the house of their prayer," meaning the place where they would prostrate themselves to their gods.

The reason these places are called maskiyosam is because they would cover the ground with marble stone floors to bow down on them, stretching out their hands and feet in worship.

As it says in Vayikra 26:1, "And a stone of maskis you shall not place in your land to bow down upon it"—showing that these are special stones or floors used for prostration in idol worship.

Rashi explains massekosam as the Targum translates it: "their molten images"—meaning images made from melted metal.

"And you shall drive out the land and dwell in it, for to you I have given the land to inherit it." The teacher explains that this means you will chase away the inhabitants from the land, and then you will be able to settle there, because Hashem has given it to you to inherit.

Rashi explains: VeHorash'tem es haAretz—you shall drive her (the land) from her inhabitants, and then Veyishavtem bah—you will be able to exist and settle in it. Only after removing the inhabitants can you truly live in the land.

If not—if you do not drive out the inhabitants—you will not be able to exist in the land. Hashem is saying that your ability to remain in Eretz Yisroel depends on fulfilling this command.