To cling to Torah sages: That we were commanded to associate [with] and cling to Torah sages, so that we learn its glorious commandments from them, and they teach us the true opinions — which are received through them — about it. And about this is it stated (Deuteronomy 10:20), “to Him shall you cling.” And the command is repeated in another place, as it is stated (Deuteronomy 11:22), “and to cling to Him.” And they, may their memory be blessed, said (Ketuvot 111b), “And is it possible for a person to cling to the Divine Presence — and behold it is written (Deuteronomy 4:24), ‘For the Lord, your God, is a consuming fire’? Rather, one who clings to the Torah scholars and their students is as if he clings to Him, blessed be He.” And from this, our Rabbis, may their memory be blessed, learned that anyone who marries the daughter of a Torah scholar, or marries his daughter to a Torah scholar or who gives benefit from his property to a Torah scholar is as if he clings to the Divine presence. And they also expounded in Sifrei Devarim 49, “‘And to cling to Him’ — study the words of aggadah (the homiletical teachings), as through this, you will recognize the One Who spoke and the world came into being.”
And this commandment is practiced in every place and at all times by males. And it is also a commandment upon females to listen to the words of [Torah] sages, so that they will learn to know God. And one who transgresses it and does not associate with them and fix their love in his heart and strive for their good and their benefit at times when he has the ability in his hand to do so, has violated this positive commandment. And his punishment is very great, as they are [essential for] the existence of the Torah and a strong foundation for spiritual salvation; as anyone who is with them often will not sin quickly. And King Shlomo stated (Proverbs 13:20), “He who walks with the wise becomes wise.” And our Rabbis, may their memory be blessed, said (Avot 1:4), “Become dirty in the dust of their feet.” And Ramban, may his memory be blessed, wrote (in his glosses to the Sefer HaMitzvot, Positive Commandments 7) that the essence of this commandment is to swear in His name, blessed be He, to fulfill a commandment. And the proof is from that which they said in Temurah 3b, “From where [do we know] that we swear to fulfill a commandment? As it is stated (Psalms 119:106), ‘I have sworn to keep Your just statutes.’” And they answered there that it is derived from “to Him shall you cling,” as it appears there.
לְהִדָּבֵק בְּחַכְמֵי הַתּוֹרָה – שֶׁנִּצְטַוִּינוּ לְהִתְחַבֵּר וּלְהִתְדַּבֵּק עִם חַכְמֵי הַתּוֹרָה, כְּדֵי שֶׁנִּלְמַד מֵהֶם מִצְווֹתֶיהָ הַנִּכְבָּדוֹת, וְיוֹרוּנוּ הַדֵּעוֹת הָאֲמִתִּיּוֹת בָּהּ שֶׁהֵם מְקַבְּלִים מֵהֶם, וְעַל זֶה נֶאֱמַר (דברים י, כ) וּבוֹ תִדְבָּק, וְנִכְפָּל הַצִּוּוּי בְּמָקוֹם אַחֵר, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר וּלְדָבְקָה בוֹ (שם יא, כב), וְאָמְרוּ זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה (כתובות קיא, ב), וְכִי אֶפְשָׁר לוֹ לְאָדָם לְהִדָּבֵק בַּשְּׁכִינָה, וְהָא כְּתִיב כִּי יְיָ אֱלֹהֶיךָ אֵשׁ אֹכְלָה הוּא (דברים ד, כד)? אֶלָּא הַדָּבֵק לְתַלְמִידֵי חֲכָמִים וּלְתַלְמִידֵיהֶם כְּאִלּוּ נִדְבָּק בּוֹ בָּרוּךְ הוּא, וּמִזֶּה לָמְדוּ רַבּוֹתֵינוּ זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה לוֹמַר, שֶׁכָּל הַנּוֹשֵׂא בַּת תַּלְמִיד חָכָם וְהַמַּשִּׂיא בִּתּוֹ לְתַלְמִיד חָכָם וּמְהַנֵּהוּ מִנְּכָסָיו כְּאִלּוּ נִדְבָּק בִּשְׁכִינָה. וְעוֹד דָּרְשׁוּ בְּסִפְרֵי (פיסקא דללכת בדרכיו), וּלְדָבְקָה בּוֹ לְמֹד דִּבְרֵי אַגָּדָה שֶׁמִּתּוֹךְ כָּךְ אַתָּה מַכִּיר מִי שֶׁאָמַר וְהָיָה הָעוֹלָם.
To cling to Torah sages: That we were commanded to associate [with] and cling to Torah sages, so that we learn its glorious commandments from them, and they teach us the true opinions — which are received through them — about it. And about this is it stated (Deuteronomy 10:20), “to Him shall you cling.” And the command is repeated in another place, as it is stated (Deuteronomy 11:22), “and to cling to Him.” And they, may their memory be blessed, said (Ketuvot 111b), “And is it possible for a person to cling to the Divine Presence — and behold it is written (Deuteronomy 4:24), ‘For the Lord, your God, is a consuming fire’? Rather, one who clings to the Torah scholars and their students is as if he clings to Him, blessed be He.” And from this, our Rabbis, may their memory be blessed, learned that anyone who marries the daughter of a Torah scholar, or marries his daughter to a Torah scholar or who gives benefit from his property to a Torah scholar is as if he clings to the Divine presence. And they also expounded in Sifrei Devarim 49, “‘And to cling to Him’ — study the words of aggadah (the homiletical teachings), as through this, you will recognize the One Who spoke and the world came into being.”
שֹׁרֶשׁ הַמִּצְוָה נִגְלֶה הוּא, כְּדֵי שֶׁנִּלְמַד לָדַעַת דַּרְכֵי הַשֵּׁם יִתְבָּרַךְ.
The root of the commandment is revealed — so that we learn to know the ways of God, may He be blessed.
וְדִינֵי הַמִּצְוָה, כְּבָר כָּתַבְתִּי קְצָתָן [הלכות דעות פ"ו].
I have already written some of the laws of the commandment. (See Mishneh Torah, Laws of Human Dispositions 6.)
וְנוֹהֶגֶת מִצְוָה זוֹ בְּכָל מָקוֹם וּבְכָל זְמַן בִּזְכָרִים, וְגַם הַנְּקֵבוֹת מִצְוָה עֲלֵיהֶן גַּם כֵּן לִשְׁמֹעַ דִּבְרֵי חֲכָמִים, כְּדֵי שֶׁיִּלְמְדוּ לָדַעַת אֶת הַשֵּׁם. וְהָעוֹבֵר עַל זֶה וְאֵינוֹ מִתְחַבֵּר עִמָּהֶם וְקוֹבֵעַ בְּלִבּוֹ אַהֲבָתָם וּמִשְׁתַּדֵּל בְּטוֹבָם וְתוֹעַלְתָּם בְּעִתִּים שֶׁיֵּשׁ סִפֵּק בְּיָדוֹ לַעֲשׂוֹת כֵּן מְבַטֵּל עֲשֵׂה זֶה, וְעָנְשׁוֹ גָּדוֹל מְאֹד, כִּי הֵם קִיּוּם הַתּוֹרָה וִיסוֹד חָזָק לִתְשׁוּעַת הַנְּפָשׁוֹת, שֶׁכָּל הָרָגִיל עִמָּהֶם, לֹא בִּמְהֵרָה הוּא חוֹטֵא, וְהַמֶּלֶךְ שְׁלֹמֹה אָמַר (משלי יג, כ) הוֹלֵךְ אֶת חֲכָמִים יֶחְכָּם. וְרַבּוֹתֵינוּ זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה אָמְרוּ (אבות פ"א מ"ד), הֱוֵי מִתְאַבֵּק בַּעֲפַר רַגְלֵיהֶם. וְהָרַמְבַּ"ן זִכְרוֹנוֹ לִבְרָכָה כָּתַב (בהשגותיו לספה"מ מצות עשה ז') כִּי עִקַּר מִצְוָה זוֹ, הִיא לְהִשָּׁבַע בִּשְׁמוֹ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לְקַיֵּם מִצְוָה, וְהָרְאָיָה מִמָּה שֶׁאָמְרוּ בִּתְמוּרָה (ג, ב) מִנַּיִן שֶׁנִּשְׁבָּעִים לְקַיֵּם הַמִּצְוָה? שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (תהלים קיט קו) נִשְׁבַּעְתִּי וָאֲקַיֵּמָה לִשְׁמֹר מִשְׁפְּטֵי צִדְקֶךָ. וְהֵשִׁיבוּ שָׁם הַהוּא מִוּבוֹ תִדְבָּק נָפְקָא וְכוּ' כְּמוֹ שֶׁבָּא שָׁם.
And this commandment is practiced in every place and at all times by males. And it is also a commandment upon females to listen to the words of [Torah] sages, so that they will learn to know God. And one who transgresses it and does not associate with them and fix their love in his heart and strive for their good and their benefit at times when he has the ability in his hand to do so, has violated this positive commandment. And his punishment is very great, as they are [essential for] the existence of the Torah and a strong foundation for spiritual salvation; as anyone who is with them often will not sin quickly. And King Shlomo stated (Proverbs 13:20), “He who walks with the wise becomes wise.” And our Rabbis, may their memory be blessed, said (Avot 1:4), “Become dirty in the dust of their feet.” And Ramban, may his memory be blessed, wrote (in his glosses to the Sefer HaMitzvot, Positive Commandments 7) that the essence of this commandment is to swear in His name, blessed be He, to fulfill a commandment. And the proof is from that which they said in Temurah 3b, “From where [do we know] that we swear to fulfill a commandment? As it is stated (Psalms 119:106), ‘I have sworn to keep Your just statutes.’” And they answered there that it is derived from “to Him shall you cling,” as it appears there.