(Q) said:
Therein lies much of the problem. Although it may not seem an important issue, it most certainly is one of THE most important issues.
How DID those so-called holy men receive those alleged words from god? Did it come in a vision, a booming voice from the sky, burning bush? How exactly?
According to their words, typically while they were visions. Some mention the fact that they were in prayer at the time.
Moses met up with the Burning Bush, when God told him to go to free the people from Egypt.
Isaiah 1:1 - "The vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah."
Ezekiel 1:1 - "Now it came to pass in the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, in the fifth day of the month, as I was among the captives by the river of Chebar, that the heavens were opened, and I saw visions of God."
Obadiah 1:1 - "The vision of Obadiah. Thus saith the Lord GOD concerning Edom;"
Nahum 1:1 - "The burden of Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite."
Habakkuk 1:1 - "The burden which Habakkuk the prophet did see."
Revelation 1:10-11 - "I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet, Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea"
Most of the rest of the time, they were not so descriptive. They would simply say that the Word of the Lord came to them.
HOWEVER
John 1:1-2 - "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God."
So if the Word of the Lord came to them, it is very likely that The WORD of God actually came and spoke to them.
Jeremiah 1:1-2 - "The words of Jeremiah the son of Hilkiah, of the priests that were in Anathoth in the land of Benjamin: To whom the word of the LORD came in the days of Josiah the son of Amon king of Judah, in the thirteenth year of his reign"
Hosea 1:1 - "The word of the LORD that came unto Hosea, the son of Beeri, in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash, king of Israel."
Joel 1:1 - The word of the LORD that came to Joel the son of Pethuel"
Jonah 1:1 - "Now the word of the LORD came unto Jonah the son of Amittai, saying,"
Micah 1:1 - "The word of the LORD that came to Micah the Morasthite in the days of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, which he saw concerning Samaria and Jerusalem."
Zephaniah 1:1 - "The word of the LORD which came unto Zephaniah the son of Cushi, the son of Gedaliah, the son of Amariah, the son of Hizkiah, in the days of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah."
Zachariah 1:1 - "The word of the LORD which came unto Zephaniah the son of Cushi, the son of Gedaliah, the son of Amariah, the son of Hizkiah, in the days of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah."
Joshua 1:1 - "Now after the death of Moses the servant of the LORD it came to pass, that the LORD spake unto Joshua the son of Nun, Moses' minister, saying,"
1 Samuel 3:1 - "And the child Samuel ministered unto the LORD before Eli. And the word of the LORD was precious in those days; there was no open vision. " (this was rare, and far between, at times)
1 Samuel 3:4-10 - "That the LORD called Samuel: and he answered, Here am I. And he ran unto Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou calledst me. And he said, I called not; lie down again. And he went and lay down. And the LORD called yet again, Samuel. And Samuel arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me. And he answered, I called not, my son; lie down again.
Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, neither was the word of the LORD yet revealed unto him. And the LORD called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me. And Eli perceived that the LORD had called the child. Therefore Eli said unto Samuel, Go, lie down: and it shall be, if he call thee, that thou shalt say, Speak, LORD; for thy servant heareth. So Samuel went and lay down in his place. And the LORD came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant heareth."
To Samuel, this was an audible voice...enough to where he went to the only person he knew of to be there. Yet, in the end, when he answered, God spoke to him. Hope that helps.