Studying Torah is more important than offering sacrifices TB Eruvin 63

On Simkhat Torah we finished the weekly Torah cycle by reading the last chapters in the book of Deuteronomy and immediately began the cycle again by reading the first chapter in the book of Genesis. I don’t think studying daf TB Eruvin 63 on Simkhat Torah was a mere coincidence because we learned the importance of Torah study. A story is told explaining that Torah study is more important than offering up sacrifices in the Temple!

“As it is stated: “And it came to pass when Joshua was by Jericho that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and, behold, a man stood over against him with his sword drawn in his hand” (Joshua 5:13), and it is written further: “And he said: No, but I am captain of the host of the Lord, I am now come” (Joshua 5:14). The man, an angel, came to demand something of Joshua and to rebuke him. The angel said to him: Last night, due to your preparations for war, you neglected the daily evening offering, and now, tonight, you are neglecting Torah study. Joshua asked him: For which of these sins have you come specially to reprove me? He said to him: “I am now come,” i.e., the fact that I did not come last night, but waited until now, shows that the sin of neglecting Torah study is the more severe one." (Sefaria.org translation)

What did Joshua do when he learned that he neglected Torah study? “Joshua immediately acted to rectify the matter by deciding that he must devote more time to learning Torah, as it is stated: “And Joshua walked that night in the midst of the valley [ha’emek]” (Joshua 8:13). And Rabbi Yoḥanan said: This teaches that he walked all night in the depth [be’omeka] of halakha, thereby atoning for his previous neglect of Torah study.” (Sefaria.org translation)

As I have written earlier, as we begin the New Year now is a wonderful time to begin studying Torah in its widest sense. I have previously recommended several one volume commentaries on the Torah. If you’re interested in studying any other aspect of Judaism and don’t know where to begin, please feel free to contact me and I will be more than happy to recommend books in your field of interest to help you along in your journey.