What is the connection between this Pasuk and the previous Pesukim?
Rashi: When Hashem scattered the Dor Haflagah, He did not destroy them, because Hashem's portion - His people, Ya'akov - was contained among them and was destined to come out from them. 1
Ramban (on Pasuk 7, citing the Ibn Ezra): This relates the uniqueness of Yisrael, "Ha la'Shem Tigm'lu Zos!?" - 'How could you do this to Hashem who raised you to such a high level, which He did not do to any other nation!?' "Am Naval ve'Lo Chacham" - 'In your foolishness, you fell from that level!'
Rosh (in Pasuk 8): It explains why Hashem started [arranging] the inheritance of Yisrael - since He took them for his portion.
What are the connotations of "Ki Cheilek Hashem Amo"?
Refer to 32:9:1:1 & 3.
Targum Yonasan: Refer to 32:8:3:1*. It means that Yisrael fell to Hashem's lot.
Why does the Torah mention specifically Ya'akov?
Rashi #1: Because he was the third of the Avos and who possessed a triple merit - that of his grandfather (Avraham), that of his father (Yitzchak) and his own - like a rope of three strands. 1
Rashi #2: All Ya'akov's sons are Hashem's portion - but not Yishmael, the son of Avraham, and not Eisav, the son of Yitzchak.
Rosh (in Pasuk 11): Because, as opposed to Avraham, who wanted to Shecht Yitzchak and did not Daven to save him 2 , and Yitzchak, who wanted to curse Ya'akov, 3 Ya'akov was merciful to his sons.
Avraham did not Daven to have a son from Sarah (refer to Bereishis 16:5:1:1), and when Hashem said that he will have a son from Sarah, he requested that Yishmael should be a Tzadik ('I would prefer this to having a second son' - Bereishis Rabah 47:4). Our text of Selichos implies that he did Daven for him at the Akeidah, when we say - 'Answer us like you answered Avraham on Har ha'Moriyah!' (PF). Perhaps that is referring to the Tefilah that Avraham Davened after Hashem ordered him to desist - See Rashi there, in 22:14.
When did Yitzchak want to curse Ya'akov? Ya'akov was afraid that (if Yitzchak will realize that he (Ya'akov) was pretending to be Eisav, he would curse him) - but when Yitzchak found out, he said "Gam Baruch Yih'yeh" (Bereishis 27:33)! Perhaps his intention of making Eisav master over Ya'akov is considered a curse (PF). See Bereishis Rabah, 67 and Tanchuma, 11, who specifically state that, when Yitzchak discovered that Ya'akov had tricked him, his initial reaction was to curse him, only Hashem stopped him.
What are the implications of "Ya'akov Chevel Nachalaso"?
Rashi: Refer to 32:9:2:1.
Seforno: It implies that Ya'akov and his sons (and sons' sons) are servants of Hashem - but if a Chasid is to be found among the other nations, his status is not passed down to his descendants.
Targum Yonasan: When Yisrael fell to Hashem's portion, 1 the angel Micha'el announced "Ki Cheilek Hashem Amo!" and the Angel Gavriel opened his mouth in praise and declared "Ya'akov Chevel Nachalaso!"
Hadar Zekenim and Rosh (in Pasuk 8): "Chevel" is synonymous with 'portion' - The Pasuk therefore means that Yisrael is Hashem's portion.
