Mishlei 22-28

Legacies

Key Concepts

Each generation has an obligation to honor the historical legacies that were handed down to it by previous generations. These legacies, consisting of traditional customs and practices are like ancient boundary markers in hereditary fields. Such markers tell us how far we are free to go, and they establish limits upon our freedom of action. We need to think of them as sacred legacies of the past, which have been entrusted to the living present as a pledge to our sense of honor and duty.

Exploring Mishlei

 כח =   אַל תַּסֵּג גְּבוּל עוֹלָם אֲשֶׁר עָשׂוּ אֲבוֹתֶיךָ

(28) Do not violate the ancient boundaries that your ancestors have instituted.

The halachah of preserving boundary markers is clearly mandated by the Torah (Devarim 19:14). Mishlei does not attempt here to repeat an edict which the Torah has already made explicit. However, Mishlei treats that law as metaphor for the need to preserve the legacies of our forefathers.

Learning Mishlei

(28) Do not violate the ancient boundaries, — אַל תַּסֵּג גְּבוּל עוֹלָם
that your ancestors have instituted. — אֲשֶׁר עָשׂוּ אֲבוֹתֶיךָ

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Mishlei 22-28 (Legacies) PDF version