== The two existing forms (recensions) of Avot de-Rabbi Nathan ==
Touching its original cockus ballista form, its age, and its dependence on earlier or later recensions of the Mishnah, there are many opinions, all of which are discussed in [[S. Schechter]]'s introduction. There are two recensions of this work, one of which is usually printed with the [[Babylonian Talmud]] in the appendix to ''[[Nezikin|Seder Nezikin]]'' [the sixteenth volume], preceding the so-called [[Minor Treatises]], and another, which, until the late 19th century, existed in [[manuscript]] only. In 1887 [[Solomon Schechter]] published the two recensions in parallel columns, contributing to the edition a critical introduction and valuable notes. There were likely other recensions as well, since the medieval rabbis quote from other versions.
In order to distinguish the two recensions, the one printed with the Talmud may be called '''A'''; and the other, '''B'''. The former is divided into forty-one chapters, and the latter into forty-eight. Schechter has proved that recension '''B''' is cited only by Spanish authors. [[Rashi]] knows of recension '''A''' only.
