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Avot de-Rabbi Natan
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Avot de-Rabbi Natan
Avot of Rabbi Natan, also known as Avot de-Rabbi Nathan (ARN) (Jewish Babylonian Aramaic: אבות דרבי נתן), the first and longest of the minor tractates of the Talmud, is a Jewish aggadic work probably compiled in the Geonic era (c. 700–900 CE). It is a commentary on an early version of the Mishnah and exists in two forms: a standard printed edition and a second edition with 48 chapters published by Solomon Schechter, who labeled the two forms as A and B, respectively.[citation needed]
Despite being one of the minor tractates, it more closely resembles a late midrash. It may be technically designated as a homiletical exposition of the Mishnaic tractate Pirkei Avot (often abbreviated as Avot), having an older recension of that tractate for its foundation. It may also be considered as a kind of tosefta or gemarah of Mishna Avot, which does not possess a traditional gemarah.
ARN contains many teachings, proverbs, and incidents not found elsewhere in the early Rabbinic literature. Other Rabbinic sayings appear in a more informal style than what is found in Pirkei Avot.
Touching its original form, age, and dependence on earlier or later recensions of the Mishnah, many opinions are discussed in Solomon Schechter's introduction to the tractate. There are two recensions of the work, one of which is usually printed with the Babylonian Talmud in the appendix to Nezikin (the sixteenth volume), preceding the so-called minor tractates, and another, which, until the late 19th century, existed in manuscript only. In 1887, Schechter published the two recensions in parallel columns, contributing a critical introduction and valuable notes to the edition. There were likely other recensions, since the medieval rabbis quote from other versions.[citation needed]
To distinguish the two recensions, the one printed with the Talmud may be called A and the other, B. The former is divided into 41 chapters, and the latter into 48. Schechter proved that recension B was cited only by Spanish authors. Rashi knew of only recension A.[citation needed]
A Hebrew manuscript of Avot de-Rabbi Nathan is today housed at the Bodleian Library in Oxford, England, under the classification MS Oxford (Bodleiana) Heb. c. 24. In addition, MS Parma (Palatina) 2785 (de Rossi 327; Uncastillo/Spain, 1289), being a more precise copy of Avot de-Rabbi Nathan, has been used to correct errors in recension B.
The content of the two recensions differs from each other considerably, although the method is the same in both. The separate teachings of the Mishnah Avot are generally taken as texts, which are either briefly explained—the ethical lessons contained therein being supported by reference to Hebrew Biblical passages—or fully illustrated by narratives and legends. Sometimes, long digressions are made by introducing subjects connected only loosely with the text. The following example may illustrate this method: Commenting on the teaching of Simon the Just, which designates charity as one of the three pillars on which the world rests, Avot de-Rabbi Nathan reads as follows:
How [does the world rest] on charity? Behold, the prophet (Hosea) said in the name of the LORD, "I desired charity [mercy], and not sacrifice". The world was created only by charity [mercy], as [it] is said, "Mercy shall be built up for ever", or, as the Rabbis translated this passage, "The world is built on mercy". Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakai, accompanied by Rabbi Joshua, once passed Jerusalem [after its fall]. While looking upon the city and the ruins of the [Second] Temple, Rabbi Joshua exclaimed, "Woe unto us, that the holy place is destroyed which atoned for our sins!" Rabbi Yochanan replied, "My son, do not grieve on this account, for we have another atonement for our sins; it is charity, as is said, 'I desired charity, and not sacrifice'."
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Avot de-Rabbi Natan
Avot of Rabbi Natan, also known as Avot de-Rabbi Nathan (ARN) (Jewish Babylonian Aramaic: אבות דרבי נתן), the first and longest of the minor tractates of the Talmud, is a Jewish aggadic work probably compiled in the Geonic era (c. 700–900 CE). It is a commentary on an early version of the Mishnah and exists in two forms: a standard printed edition and a second edition with 48 chapters published by Solomon Schechter, who labeled the two forms as A and B, respectively.[citation needed]
Despite being one of the minor tractates, it more closely resembles a late midrash. It may be technically designated as a homiletical exposition of the Mishnaic tractate Pirkei Avot (often abbreviated as Avot), having an older recension of that tractate for its foundation. It may also be considered as a kind of tosefta or gemarah of Mishna Avot, which does not possess a traditional gemarah.
ARN contains many teachings, proverbs, and incidents not found elsewhere in the early Rabbinic literature. Other Rabbinic sayings appear in a more informal style than what is found in Pirkei Avot.
Touching its original form, age, and dependence on earlier or later recensions of the Mishnah, many opinions are discussed in Solomon Schechter's introduction to the tractate. There are two recensions of the work, one of which is usually printed with the Babylonian Talmud in the appendix to Nezikin (the sixteenth volume), preceding the so-called minor tractates, and another, which, until the late 19th century, existed in manuscript only. In 1887, Schechter published the two recensions in parallel columns, contributing a critical introduction and valuable notes to the edition. There were likely other recensions, since the medieval rabbis quote from other versions.[citation needed]
To distinguish the two recensions, the one printed with the Talmud may be called A and the other, B. The former is divided into 41 chapters, and the latter into 48. Schechter proved that recension B was cited only by Spanish authors. Rashi knew of only recension A.[citation needed]
A Hebrew manuscript of Avot de-Rabbi Nathan is today housed at the Bodleian Library in Oxford, England, under the classification MS Oxford (Bodleiana) Heb. c. 24. In addition, MS Parma (Palatina) 2785 (de Rossi 327; Uncastillo/Spain, 1289), being a more precise copy of Avot de-Rabbi Nathan, has been used to correct errors in recension B.
The content of the two recensions differs from each other considerably, although the method is the same in both. The separate teachings of the Mishnah Avot are generally taken as texts, which are either briefly explained—the ethical lessons contained therein being supported by reference to Hebrew Biblical passages—or fully illustrated by narratives and legends. Sometimes, long digressions are made by introducing subjects connected only loosely with the text. The following example may illustrate this method: Commenting on the teaching of Simon the Just, which designates charity as one of the three pillars on which the world rests, Avot de-Rabbi Nathan reads as follows:
How [does the world rest] on charity? Behold, the prophet (Hosea) said in the name of the LORD, "I desired charity [mercy], and not sacrifice". The world was created only by charity [mercy], as [it] is said, "Mercy shall be built up for ever", or, as the Rabbis translated this passage, "The world is built on mercy". Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakai, accompanied by Rabbi Joshua, once passed Jerusalem [after its fall]. While looking upon the city and the ruins of the [Second] Temple, Rabbi Joshua exclaimed, "Woe unto us, that the holy place is destroyed which atoned for our sins!" Rabbi Yochanan replied, "My son, do not grieve on this account, for we have another atonement for our sins; it is charity, as is said, 'I desired charity, and not sacrifice'."
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