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In Proverbs, a father urges his children not to forsake his teaching. Rabbinic tradition in Pirkei Avot draws on this verse to call the Torah a precious instrument given to Israel out of love.
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2500 BCE
1000+ CE
Proverbs 4:2
Hebrew Bible
1 Listen, children, to a father’s instruction, and pay attention so that you may gain discernment. 2 Because I hereby give you good instruction,do not forsake my teaching. 3 When I was a son to my father, a tender, only child before my mother,
Pirkei Avot 3:14
Mishnah
Rabbinic
13 Rabbi Akiva said:Merriment and frivolity accustom one to sexual licentiousness; Tradition is a fence to the Torah; Tithes a fence to wealth, Vows a fence to abstinence; A fence to wisdom is silence. 14 He used to say: Beloved is man for he was created in the image [of God]. Especially beloved is he for it was made known to him that he had been created in the image [of God], as it is said: “for in the image of God He made man” (Genesis 9:6). Beloved are Israel in that they were called children to the All-Present. Especially beloved are they for it was made known to them that they are called children of the All-Present, as it is said: “you are children to the Lord your God” (Deuteronomy 14:1). Beloved are Israel in that a precious vessel was given to them. Especially beloved are they for it was made known to them that the desirable instrument, with which the world had been created, was given to them, as it is said: “for I give you good instruction; forsake not my teaching” (Proverbs 4:2). 15 Everything is foreseen yet freedom of choice is granted, And the world is judged with goodness; And everything is in accordance with the preponderance of works.
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Notes and References
"... Finally, divine love for Israel is even more pronounced in entrusting them with a “precious instrument,” the Torah by which the world was created. We have encountered before the idea that Torah is a constitutive part of the created order, such as in Avot 1:2 and commentaries on Avot 2:10. Midrash on Genesis 1:1 describes the Torah as the blueprint by which God made all things. The first chapter of this midrash quotes Proverbs 8:22, “The Lord made me at the beginning of his way,” to indicate Torah is synonymous with personified Wisdom. ..."
Joslyn-Siemiatkoski, Daniel
The More Torah, The More Life: A Christian Commentary on Mishnah Avot
(p. 184) Peeters, 2018
* The use of references are not endorsements of their contents. Please read the entirety of the provided reference(s) to understand the author's full intentions regarding the use of these texts.
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