Every concept in the Torah has a mystical interpretation in addition to the plain meaning of the verse. According to Chassidic teachings the verse, as well as the points Rashi clarifies, is relevant to the purpose of every Jew on this earth.
According to the Kabbalah, the source of the Jewish soul, the Divine attribute of Malchut, is referred to as land. While earth is lower than vegetation, animal and human life, the earth produces and sustains life. The same is true regarding Malchut, the divine attribute of royalty, it is the lowest of all attributes, yet it sustains the creation by infusing it with Divine energy.
The verse “this is the land that will fall to you”, refers to the “falling”, the traumatic and steep descent, of the “land”, the soul, when it descends from heaven to earth. What is the purpose of the descent? Why does the soul leave its spiritual paradise and “fall” into a spiritually hostile and challenging environment? Rashi explains: “many mitzvos apply in the land and do not apply outside the land”. The reason the soul descends to the earth is because the earth is the arena in which the commandments can be fulfilled. For the Divine purpose of creation is that the infinite light of G-d should be drawn down within the finite space, the “boundaries”, of creation.
If the descent into the world allows the soul to fulfill the Divine purpose, and thus elevate itself to even greater heights, why does the verse use the term “fall”, which implies descent?
Rashi offers two interpretations.
The first is that the term “fall” refers to the lottery that is cast in order to divide the land among the tribes. The mystical interpretation of the lot is as follows: when the soul is in heaven it experiences the Divine reality and is therefore filled with love and awe to the creator. Its relationship with G-d is based on its understanding and experience of God's greatness. When the soul descends, it loses its Divine awareness. The love and awe are no longer felt naturally. Instead, the soul reaches the level of “lottery”. A lottery is not decided based on logic; the lottery represents a level deeper than logic. While in heaven the soul’s relationship with G-d was conditioned on its understanding, on this earth the soul, lacking the understanding and awareness, experiences an even deeper level of connection. The unconditional bond. The lottery.
Rashi’s second interpretation as to why the Torah uses the term “fall” is: “ the Holy One, blessed is He, cast down from Heaven the celestial ministers of the seven nations, and shackled them before Moshe.” When the soul responds to the descent into this world, to the “fall” from its heavenly state, by cultivating the “lot”, the unconditional bond to G-d, then G-d removes all obstacles that stand in the way of man’s service.
(Adapted from the teachings of the Rebbe, Lekutei Sichos Masei vol. 13 sicha 2)
