The Talmud on the Importance of Torah Study

b. Megillah 16b

Rav said, and some say [that] R. Samuel bar Marta [said]: Studying Torah is greater [and more important] than building the Temple. [A proof of this is that] for as long as Baruch ben Neriah was alive [in Babylonia], Ezra, [who was his disciple,] did not leave him and go up [to the land of Israel to build the Temple.]

b. Eruvin 63b

[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 (Joshua 5:14) [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].

[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 R. Yoḥanan said: [This] teaches that he walked [all night] in the depth [be-’omekah] of halakhah, [thereby atoning for his previous neglect of Torah study.] [ . . . ]

R. Samuel bar Inya said in the name of Rav: Torah study is greater than the offering of daily [sacrifices, as the angel] said to [Joshua]: I am now come [i.e., on account of the second sin, demonstrating that neglect of Torah study is a more serious offense than neglect of the daily offerings].