John Gill Commentary Proverbs 22:28

"Remove not the ancient landmark, Which thy fathers have set." — Proverbs 22:28 (ASV)

Remove not the ancient landmark which your fathers have set .
] Or, "the ancient border" or "boundary" ^F14 ; by which lands, estates, and inheritances, were marked, bounded, and distinguished; set by ancestors in agreement with their neighbours; which to remove was contrary to a law, and a curse is denounced upon those that did it, (Deuteronomy 19:14) (27:17) ; and was always reckoned a very heinous crime in early times; (See Gill on Job 24:2).

This was so sacred a thing among the Romans, that they had a deity which presided over those bounds, and had its name from them. Some apply this, in a political sense, to laws of long standing, and customs of long prescription; and others interpret it, in a theological sense, of doctrines and practices settled by the fathers of the church; which, if understood of Christ and his apostles only, will be allowed; but if of the ancient fathers of the church that followed them, it should not be received; since they were but fallible men, and guilty of many errors and mistakes, both in doctrine and practice.

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FOOTNOTES:

• F14: (Mlwe lwbg) "terminum antiquum", Pagninus, Junius & Tremellius, Piscator, Michaelis, Schultens.