“The Fathers According to Rabbi Nathan” is an elaboration and commentary on Pirkei Avot. Its substance is varied and includes folklore, historical traditions, and ethical teachings. The date of its composition and its relationship to Pirkei Avot are matters of debate. Rabbinic authorities of the Middle Ages knew and referred to the work, and printers published the text with the minor tractates of the Talmud as early as 1550.