Textual (ie. Torah) references describing the minyan?

Question

I need to quote something from Jewish scripture to demonstrate where the minyan is derived from-ie. textual reference.
Any help would be much appreciated.

Answer 1

It's a stretch....as the practice is much more Talmudic than it is from The Law. It's the Tradition of Rabbinic Judiasm.

The Scriptural requirement (according to Talmud writings) actually comes from the "sin of the spies" (Numbers 14:27), in which the ten spies who bring a negative report of the land of Israel are referred to as an eidah or congregation (Babylonian Talmud Megillah 23b), though the Jerusalem Talmud (Megillah 4,4) relates it to the ten brothers of Joseph who went down to Egypt to get food during a famine.

The quorum of ten men is also referred to in the Book of Ruth 4:2.

Not exactly Torah, I know....but, neither is the idea of a necessary minyan.

It's Tradition. Not a bad thing, but it is what it is.

Answer 2

None of the Mishnah, Talmud or later codes of Jewish law hold this as requirement. Rather, it is described as a preferred activity, but not as mandatory. The Shulkhan Arukh (section Orach Chayim 90:9) says "A person should make every effort to attend services in a synagogue with a quorum; if circumstances prevent him from doing so, he should pray, wherever he is, at the same time that the synagogue service takes place".

Answer 3

There are 2 sources. The first is when Abraham bargains with God to save Sodom and Gomorrah. Abraham gets God to agree not to destroy the cities if 10 righteous people be found.

The second, and more direct, is the episode of the spies. The 10 spies (not including Joshua and Caleb) are called a congregation.

Answer 4

"The requirement comes from the sin of the spies (Numbers 14:27), in which the ten spies who bring a negative report of the land of Israel are referred to as an eidah or congregation (Babylonian Talmud Megillah 23b)"