Hebrew: "Sayings of the Fathers"
The only tractate in the Mishna that is devoted
entirely to transmitting non-legal opinions. Aboth catalogs the wisdom sayings of rabbinic
sages, including several of the 2nd temple period, without providing any
connecting narrative frame. It was probably composed before & originally published
independently of the Mishna, since it does not fit well in
its current location in Neziqin, the order
of tractates concerned with civil & criminal law. It is the only Mishna
tractate that has no later commentary in the Talmud.
Other resources on
line:
Perspective on the World of Jesus 