 The phrase "not in Heaven" is understood to justify human authority to interpret the Torah.The Talmud explains "[The Torah] is not in Heaven" to mean that the meaning of the Torah itself is to be uncovered not by prophets, or even God's miracles or words, but by humankind's interpretation and decision-making.In the story of the Oven of Akhnai, "Rabbi Yehoshua affirmed the independence of human interpretation from divine intervention since this is what God wills.