תהלים, פרק ע״ח, פסוק ג׳

The transmission of history and faith rests on an unbroken chain of tradition rather than logical proofs [מאירי]. The spiritual and historical heritage of the people is built upon information received from previous generations, passed down by many righteous individuals [אבן עזרא, מצודת דוד, רד״ק].

How does simply hearing these accounts transform into certain, unshakable knowledge? There are two ways to understand this transformation. One approach suggests that the transmission process itself is so powerful and reliable that it naturally becomes absolute knowledge, confirming that the truth is exactly as it was told [אבן עזרא, מצודת דוד]. Another perspective explains that this certainty exists because the historical accounts are also backed up and formally recorded in the teachings of Moses [רד״ק, אלשיך].

The deep reliability of this tradition comes from the natural relationship between parents and children. Fathers love their children and would never plant false stories in their hearts or deliberately mislead them. Because of this inherent care, it is entirely clear that the ancestors spoke the truth when passing down their history [אבן עזרא, מצודת דוד, רד״ק]. Ultimately, sharing these accounts ensures that the continuous chain of tradition moves forward securely from one generation to the next [ביאור שטיינזלץ].