Tanach · Rishonim on Tanach · Sforno · Torah

Sforno on Numbers 11:12/ספורנו על במדבר י״א:י״ב

אהֶאָנֹכִי הָרִיתִי. הִנֵּה הָאָב יוּכַל לְהַנְהִיג אֶת בָּנָיו אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁהֵם חֲלוּקֵי הַדֵּעוֹת, וְזֶה כִּי כֻלָּם חוֹשְׁבִים אוֹתוֹ לְאוֹהֵב שֶׁיִּשְׁתַּדֵּל בְּכָל כֹּחוֹ לְהֵיטִיב לָהֶם. אֲבָל אֵלֶּה אֵינָם בוֹטְחִים בִּי כְּלָל, וְחוֹשְׁדִים וּמְנַסִּים לִרְאוֹת מָה אֶעֱשֶׂה בַּעֲדָם.
1האנוכי הריתי, true, a natural father knows how to guide his children even if they have differences of opinions among them. The reason such a father can be successful is that all his children know that he loves them all and has their best interests at heart. But these people do not put their trust in me at all; they suspect me and constantly provoke me to see what I would do for them.