Rabbi Chanina, the Deputy Kohen [Gadol], says: Pray for the welfare of the government, because if people did not fear it, a person would swallow his fellow alive.  Rabbi Chanania ben Tradyon says: [When] two people are sitting [together] and there are no words of Torah between them, this is a session of scorners, as it is stated: In the session of scorners he did not sit. But two who are sitting [together] and there are words of Torah between them, the Divine Presence dwells between them, as it is stated: Then those who fear Hashem spoke to each other, and Hashem listened and heard, and a book of remembrance was written before Him for those who fear Hashem and give thought to His Name. I only know two. From where [do we know] that even one person who sits and occupies himself with Torah, that the Holy One, Blessed is He, determines a reward for him? as it is stated: Let one sit in solitude and whisper, for he has taken [a reward] for it.

Rabbi Shimon says: [If] three people ate at the same table and did not speak words of Torah upon it, it is as if they ate from offerings of the dead, as it is stated: For all tables are full of vomit [and] filth, without the Omnipresent. But three who ate at the same table and spoke words of Torah upon it, it is as if they ate from the table of the Omnipresent, Blessed is He, as it is stated: And [the angel] said to me, “This is the table that is before Hashem.”