Deut 32:7–9: the Most High apportions the nations; the Lord's portion

Says 32:8 says that the Most High gave the nations their inheritance: בְּהַנְחֵל עֶלְיוֹן גּוֹיִם (behankhel 'elyon goyim, "when Elyon gave the nations an inheritance," literal). He also set the peoples' boundaries.

Says In the MT the verse ends לְמִסְפַּר בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל (lemispar bene yisra'el, "according to the number of the sons of Israel," literal). The BSB prints "sons of God," a reading other than the MT; the variant is treated in its own record.

Says 32:9 says כִּי חֵלֶק יְהֹוָה עַמּוֹ יַעֲקֹב (ki kheleq YHWH 'ammo ya'aqov, "the Lord’s portion is His people, Jacob," BSB), with Jacob חֶבֶל נַחֲלָתוֹ (khevel nakhalato, "His allotted inheritance," BSB). The noun "inheritance" shares the letters נחל with the verb of 32:8.

Uncertain Who the "sons" of 32:8 are, and how Elyon relates to the Lord in 32:8–9. The team takes no position. The verses set the two names in successive lines without stating their relation, and the answer depends partly on the reading adopted in 32:8. The views and their grounds will be given only from sources with checked page locators.