"The darkness of thick clouds covered the water. Rabbi Nechemiah said that the earth only drinks from the waters of the ocean. Rabbi Yehoshua said, 'But aren't the waters of the ocean salty?' Rabbi Nechemiah replied, 'They become sweetened in the clouds.'
Rabbi Abba said, 'This is similar to the animals that mix their saliva with each other.' Resh Lakish said, 'Why are they called "clouds"? It is because they mingle with each other.' Rabbi Yochanan said, 'There are miracles in the rain.
A person can scoop up a handful of raindrops and not have enough to descend because the drops do not mix with each other. Five hundred years can pass with rain falling, and not a single drop mixes with another. This is what is written, "For by them He judges peoples; He gives food in abundance" (Job 36:31).' Rav Yehuda bar Yechzekel said, 'This is how my father used to bless [God]: Blessed and exalted be His holy Name, for there are thousands upon thousands and myriads upon myriads [of raindrops], and not a single drop touches another, as it is said, "For He diminishes the drops of water" (Job 36:27).'
Rabbi Chiya bar Abba (and others) said, 'One said that the clouds are dark and covered with water, as it is said, "The darkness of thick clouds covered the water" (Job 22:14). Another said that the clouds are bright and emit light, as it is said, "He spreads His light upon it [the cloud]" (Job 36:30). Resh Lakish said that the cloud rises from below, as it is said, "A mist would rise from the earth" (Genesis 2:6).
One verse says, "The darkness of waters," and another verse says, "The hoarfrost of waters." When the clouds carry the water, they darken, but when the water is squeezed out, it is clear forever. Therefore, it is said, "The darkness of waters and the hoarfrost of waters" (Job 38:29)."