Whom does the verse address?
Radak: It addresses the Avos. In Tehilim 105:12 1 it says "bi'Hyosam". 2
There, Radak said 'the Avos and their children; Yakov said "va'Ani Mesei Mispar" (Bereishis 34:30).'
What is the significance that they were few in number?
'Rashi': It was a great matter to swear to give to them Eretz Kena'an when they were few.
Malbim: Refer to 16:19:3:3.
What is the meaning of "Kim'at v'Garim Bah"?
'Rashi': They were not settled in the land, rather, Gerim (strangers).
Radak (Tehilim 105:12): They lived in the land for a short time, and needed to leave. Avraham needed to go to Egypt and Eretz Pelishtim due to famine, Yitzchak needed to go to Eretz Pelishtim 1 , and Yakov went to Egypt.
Malbim (Tehilim 105:12): They were Mesei Mispar (few in number), and low in quality and strength 2 . They were not natives, rather, strangers. Even so, Hashem promised the land to them!
Midrash Agadah (Behar 25) clearly says that Eretz Pelishtim is out of Eretz Yisrael, unlike Tanchuma (Toldos 6), which says that Hashem told Yitzchak not to leave Eretz Yisrael. (PF)
In what qualities were the Avos small? Midrashim say that Yakov was very strong (all the shepherds were needed to lift the rock from the well; Yakov did so easily. He carried all his possessions across a river in one night (Bereishis 32:24, Rashi) - surely he had far more than the 550 animals he gave to Esav. A Midrash says that he had 600,000 dogs to watch his flocks!) (PF)
