(9) There was another, and apparently older, recension of _Pirke Abot_ on which is based the _Abot de-Rabbi Natan_, an _hagadic_ or homiletical exposition of _Abot_. Two recensions of _Abot de-Rabbi Natan_ exist, and have been edited by Schechter. On this work, see Hoffman, _Die erste Mischna_, p. 26 _et seq._, Mielziner, article _Abot de-Rabbi Natan_, in _Jewish Encyclopedia_, Strack, _Einleitung_, p. 69 _et seq., and Pollak, _Rabbi Nathans System_, etc., _Introduction_, pp. 7-9. An English translation is found in Rodkinson's edition of the _Talmud_, vol. V, p. 1 _et seq._ (10) Taylor, _loc. cit._ Lazarus, _Ethics of Judaism_, II. 113, calls it "a compendium of ethics." (11) In _Jewish Encyclopedia_, art. _Abot_. CONTENTS Even a superficial reading of _Abot_ will bring home to one the fact that it is made up of various strata. In fact, it falls naturally into the following strands or divisions: A. Chapter I, 1-15: Chronologically arranged sayings of the oldest authorities, from the men of the Great Synagogue to Hillel and Shammai. B. (1) Chapters I, 16-II, 4: Sayings of the men of the school of Hillel to Rabban Gamaliel (about 230 C.E.), the son of Judah ha-Nasi (2) Chapter II, 5-8: Additional sayings of Hillel. C. (1) Chapter II, 9-19: The sayings of Jochanan ben Zakkai, the pupil of Hillel, and of his disciples. (2) Chapter II, 20-21: The sayings of Rabbi Tarfon, a younger contemporary of Jochanan ben Zakkai. D. Chapter III: the maxims of seventeen _Tannaim_ (authorities mentioned in the _Mishnah_) to the time of and including Rabbi Akiba. These are not arranged in strictly chronological order. E. Chapter IV: The sayings of twenty-five _Tannaim_ after the time of Rabbi Akiba, who were contemporaries of Rabbi Meir and of Rabbi Judah Ha-Nasi. These are not chronologically arranged. F. (1) Chapter V, 1-18: Anonymous sayings forming a series of groups of ten, seven, and four things, dealing with the creation of the world, with miracles, and with the varieties of men and minds. (2) Chapter V, 19-22: Anonymous sayings touching upon the varieties of motives and contrasting the good and evil dispositions. (3) Chapter V, 23: Sayings of Judah ben Tema. (4) Chapter V, 24: The ages of man. (5) Chapter V, 25, 26: The sayings of Ben Bag Bag and of Ben He He. G. Chapter VI: The acquisition of the _Torah;_ praise of the _Torah_. LANGUAGE The language of _Abot_ is easy Mishnaic Hebrew, with portions of four verses (I, 13; II, 7; V, 25, and V, 26) in Aramaic, which is closely related to Hebrew. It is worthy of note that these Aramaic portions originated with the school of Hillel (12).