Tanach · Rishonim on Tanach · Sforno · Torah

Sforno on Genesis 49:2/ספורנו על בראשית מ״ט:ב׳

אוְשִׁמְעוּ אֶל יִשְׂרָאֵל אֲבִיכֶם. קַבְּלוּ אֶת הַדֶּרֶךְ שֶׁהוֹרָה לָכֶם כָּל יָמָיו, אֲשֶׁר בָּהּ תִּהְיוּ בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וְהוּא אֲבִיכֶם, כִּי תִּשְׂתָּרְרוּ עִם אֱלֹהִים וַאֲנָשִׁים, וְלֹא יֹאבַד מִכֶּם הַטּוֹב הֶעָתִיד לָבֹא.
1ושמעו אל ישראל אביכם, preserve the teachings Israel taught throughout his life. When you do that you will be entitled to call yourselves בני ישראל, “The Children of Israel.” He, on the other hand, will be proud to call himself “your father.” It means that you as well as I have contended successfully when facing challenges set for you by G’d and by man. As a result, you will not forfeit the good G’d has in store for you.