Bat Kol - is anyone actually listening?

The Sages taught: After the last of the prophets, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi, died, the Divine Spirit departed from the Jewish people. But nevertheless, they were utilizing a Bat Kol.

And this is the oven of akhnai ... The Sages taught: On that day, when they discussed this matter, Rabbi Eliezer answered all possible answers in the world to support his opinion, but the Rabbis did not accept his explanations from him. After failing to convince the Rabbis logically, Rabbi Eliezer said to them: If the halakha is in accordance with my opinion, this carob tree will prove it. The carob tree was uprooted from its place one hundred cubits, and some say four hundred cubits. The Rabbis said to him: One does not cite halakhic proof from the carob tree. Rabbi Eliezer then said to them: If the halakha is in accordance with my opinion, the stream will prove it. The water in the stream turned backward and began flowing in the opposite direction. They said to him: One does not cite halakhic proof from a stream. Rabbi Eliezer then said to them: If the halakha is in accordance with my opinion, the walls of the study hall will prove it. The walls of the study hall leaned inward and began to fall. Rabbi Yehoshua scolded the walls and said to them: If Torah scholars are contending with each other in matters of halakha, what is the nature of your involvement in this dispute? The Gemara relates: The walls did not fall because of the deference due to Rabbi Yehoshua, but they did not straighten because of the deference due Rabbi Eliezer, and they still remain leaning. Rabbi Eliezer then said to them: If the halakha is in accordance with my opinion, Heaven will prove it. A Divine Voice emerged from Heaven and said: Why are you differing with Rabbi Eliezer, as the halakha is in accordance with his opinion in every place that he expresses an opinion? Rabbi Yehoshua stood on his feet and said: It is written: “It is not in heaven” (Deuteronomy 30:12)... Years after, Rabbi Natan encountered Elijah the prophet and said to him: What did the Holy One, Blessed be He, do at that time, when Rabbi Yehoshua issued his declaration? Elijah said to him: The Holy One, Blessed be He, smiled and said: My children have triumphed over Me; My children have triumphed over Me.

Rebbi Elazar said, in three places the divine presence made an appearance. In the court of Shem, in the court of Shmuel HaRamasi, and in the court of Shlomo. In the court of Shem, as it is written, (Genesis 38,26) And Yehudah recognized her and said she is righteous, it is from me". How did he know? Maybe the same way that he went to her, a different man also went to her? A heavenly voice called out and said "From me" these hidden things have come forth. In the court of Shmuel, as it is written, (Samuel 1,12,3) "Behold, testify before me and before his anointed one, who's ox have I taken? And they answered him, you have wrongfully taken from us, and you have not robbed us. And he said let Hashem be a witness, and let his anointed one be a witness that you have not found in my hand anything. And he said 'A witness'." "And he said"? "And they said" it should have said!? A heavenly voice called out and said, "I am a witness in this matter". In the court of Shlomo, as it is written, (I Kings 3,27) "And the king answered and said, give her the living child and do not kill it, for she is the mother.

Rabbi Abba said that Shmuel said: For three years Beit Shammai and Beit Hillel disagreed. These said: The halakha is in accordance with our opinion, and these said: The halakha is in accordance with our opinion. Ultimately, a Divine Voice emerged and proclaimed: Both these and those are the words of the living God. However, the halakha is in accordance with the opinion of Beit Hillel.