Seeing The Land of Israel

"Hashem said to Avram… “Raise now your eyes and see…For all the land that you see, to you will I give it, and to your descendents, forever … Arise, walk about the land through its length and breadth! For to you will I give it.” (Genesis 13:14-17)

In these verses, Hashem repeats his promise to Avraham regarding the Land of Israel. 

If we look at the verses closely, we see that Avraham is initially told “raise now your eyes and see,” and that the Land will go “to you” as well as “to your descendents forever.” 

However, later in this passage, Hashem again says “to you will I give it,” but here the mention of “descendents” is omitted.  Why? 

Some of the classic Torah commentaries explain this anomaly as follows:

The ‘seeing’ and vision of Eretz Yisroel belongs to all members of the Jewish people, and for all-time.  Even when there will be eras in which some Jewish people won’t be Torah observant, these Jews will remain tethered at the heart to the Land of Israel.  This is verse begins with a reference to “eyes” and seeing, and in this context the words “descendents, forever” are used.  

However, later in the verse – when it speaks about a physical involvement and possession of Eretz Yisroel (ie. “walk about the land”) – the term “descendents” is omitted because not all Jewish people will merit that.

 Sometimes this has been due to the protracted Exile, and at times because some had little interest in living in the Land, even when it was physically accessible, as we sadly find in contemporary times.