By What Right Does Israel Inherit the Land?

Parashat Eikev represents a in between the two parts of the commandments speech, with Va-etchanan on one side, and Re'eh through Ki-Tavo on the other. In our parasha, Moshe halts his list of commandments and discusses some other subjects. One of them (chapter 9) is the question: by what right does Israel inherit the land? The importance of this question is apparent in the style of the introduction to the chapter: "Hear, Israel." This expression occurs in four other places in the Sefer, each time as the introduction to a subject of major importance. This shiur will examine the structure and significance of this chapter.