There was once a dispute between Rabbi Eliezer and the Mishnic sages as to whether a baking-oven, constructed from certain materials and of a particular shape, was clean or unclean.  The former decided that it was clean, but the latter were of a contrary opinion.  Having replied to all the objections the sages had brought against his decision, and finding that they still refused to acquiesce, the Rabbi turned to them and said, “If the Halacha (the law) is according to my decision, let this carob-tree attest.”  Whereupon the carob-tree rooted itself up and transplanted itself to a distance of one hundred, some say four hundred, yards from the spot.  But the sages demurred and said, “We cannot admit the evidence of a carob-tree.”  “Well, then,” said Rabbi Eliezer, “let this running brook be a proof;” and the brook at once reversed its natural course and flowed back.  The sages refused to admit this proof also.  “Then let the walls of the college bear witness that the law is according to my decision;” upon which the walls began to bend, and were about to fall, when Rabbi Joshuah interposed and rebuked them, saying, “If the disciples of the sages wrangle with each other in the Halacha, what is that to you?  Be ye quiet!” Therefore, out of respect to Rabbi Joshuah, they did not fall, and out of respect to Rabbi Eliezer they did not resume their former upright position, but remained toppling, which they continue to do to this day.  Then said Rabbi Eliezer to the sages, “Let Heaven itself testify that the Halacha is according to my judgment.”  And a Bath Kol or voice from heaven was heard, saying, “What have ye to do with Rabbi Eliezer? for the Halacha is on every point according to his decision!” Rabbi Joshuah then stood up and proved from Scripture that even a voice from heaven was not to be regarded, “For Thou, O God, didst long ago write down in the law which Thou gavest on Sinai (Exod. xxiii. 2), ‘Thou shalt follow the multitude.’” (See context.) We have it on the testimony of Elijah the prophet, given to Rabbi Nathan, on an oath, that it was with reference to this dispute about the oven God himself confessed and said, “My children have vanquished me!  My children have vanquished me!”

Bava Metzia fol. 59, col. 1.

In the sequel to the above we are told that all the legal documents of Rabbi Eliezer containing his decisions respecting things “clean” were publicly burned with fire, and he himself excommunicated.  In consequence of this the whole world was smitten with blight, a third in the olives, a third in the barley, and a third in the wheat; and the Rabbi himself, though excommunicated, continued to be held in the highest regard in Israel.

The Rabbis said to Rabbi Hamnuna, “Rav Ami has written or copied four hundred copies of the law.”  He replied to them, “Perhaps only (Deut. xxxiii. 4) ‘Moses commanded us a law.’” (He meant he did not imagine that any one man could possibly write out four hundred complete copies of the Pentateuch.)