Talmud zu Dewarim 2:16

Rebbi Ze`ira in the name of Rebbi Ḥanina: What should the great men of a generation do since the public is judged only according to its majority? So we find that during the 38 years during which Israel were as in a ban, He did not speak with Moses, as it is said⁴⁴Deut. 2:16–17. Babli 30b.: It was when all the warriors finished dying from inside the camp. What is written next? The Eternal spoke to me to give orders. Rebbi Jacob bar Idi in the name of Rebbi Joshua ben Levi: What should the great men of a generation do since the public is judged only according to its majority? So we find that if Israel had not said⁴⁵1K. 18:39., The Eternal is the supreme power, the Eternal is the supreme power, no fire would have come down from heaven and burned the sacrifices⁴⁶However the verse makes it clear that the people answered after the fire had descended..