Why Scripture Says The Lord Rained Fire From The Lord on Sodom

Another interpretation: "And the Lord rained down upon Sodom etc. from the Lord" (Genesis 19:24). What is the meaning of "from the Lord"? Rather, He says, "Behold, I will rain down for you bread from the heavens" (Exodus 16:4), and here it says, "And the Lord rained down upon Sodom." Rabbi Berekhyah said: To what is the matter comparable? To a king who was standing beside a baker's oven. His friend came in to him; he took out hot bread and gave it to him. His enemy came in; he raked the coals and gave them to him. So too the Holy One, blessed be He: when Israel came into the wilderness, He brought down for them bread from the heavens, as it is said, "Behold, I will rain down for you bread from the heavens" (Exodus 16:4); and when the Sodomites came to commit transgressions, He brought down upon them fire from the heavens, as it is said, "And the Lord rained down upon Sodom" (Genesis 19:24). What is the meaning of "And the Lord"? That He sat over them in judgment with a Sanhedrin of seventy-one, and found them guilty, and brought down upon them fire, and they went forth to burning, as it is said, "from the Lord, out of the heavens" (Genesis 19:24). In a similar manner you say: "And the Lord rained down... from the Lord." If a person comes to ask you what is written in this verse, "And the Lord rained down etc. from the Lord," say to him: there are in the verses similar cases. "And the king said to them: Take with you the servants of your lord" (1 Kings 1:33) — it needed only to say "my servants." And from where in the Torah? "And Lamech said to his wives: Adah and Zillah, hear my voice, you wives of Lamech" (Genesis 4:23) — it needed only to say "my wives." Behold, in the Torah. And from where in the Writings? As it is said, "For a writ that is written in the king's name and sealed with the king's ring" (Esther 8:8) — it needed only to say "with my ring." So too here: "And the Lord rained down etc. from the Lord."