Divine wrath is a chilling, boundless force of destruction. Unlike ordinary fire, which naturally rises upward, the fire of God's anger pierces downward into the very depths of the earth. It ravages the surface and shatters the foundations of creation, ensuring there is no place to escape. The burning heat of this anger is widely understood as a vivid metaphor for God's immense jealousy and wrath [רש״י, רלב״ג, ביאור יש״ר]. However, some emphasize that this is not a physical flame, but rather a spiritual force of ruin born directly from divine fury [רש״ר הירש, נתינה לגר]. Once such a disaster is unleashed upon the world, it acts as a blind destroyer. Much like a person indiscriminately smashing objects in a fit of rage, this wrath does not necessarily distinguish between the righteous and the wicked [תורה תמימה].
This destructive force continues its descent into the underworld, reaching the deep abysses and the hollows of the earth where the fires of hell burn [ביאור שטיינזלץ, אם למקרא]. The fire will consume the people down to their very core [רש״י], and the punishment will relentlessly pursue them all the way to the grave [רלב״ג]. This serves as an allegory for the harsh suffering the Israelites will endure during their exile [ביאור יש״ר].
As the fury sweeps across the surface, it consumes the Land of Israel and its crops [רש״י, אבן עזרא]. The land will be ruined and scorched like sulfur and salt, ultimately bringing a severe famine upon the people [העמק דבר, רלב״ג, חזקוני].
Finally, the blazing wrath strikes the foundations of the mountains, a fiery destruction likened to the flash of a flaming sword [אבן עזרא]. Commentators offer different perspectives on what these mountains represent. A geographical approach views them literally as the mountains of Israel [אבן עזרא, ביאור יש״ר], and specifically Jerusalem, which is built upon mountains. In this view, God pours His anger onto the wood and stones of the city to bring about its ruin [רש״י, שפתי כהן]. Alternatively, a metaphorical approach sees the mountains as symbols of human and military strength. The fire burns through the mightiest walls and fortresses [רלב״ג], stripping the nation of the leaders, officers, and heroes they relied upon for support [ספורנו]. Another perspective highlights the absolute helplessness of the sinners. The burning of the mountain foundations proves that no one can escape or hide from God's anger—not in tunnels or caves carved beneath the mountains, nor even in the deepest abyss [רא״ש, בכור שור, חזקוני].
Stepping back, the entire progression can be understood as a graduated sequence targeting four distinct centers of punishment. The initial fire kindled in anger is directed at the Temple. The descent into the lowest depths represents the suffering of exile and hell. The consumption of the earth and its crops refers to the devastation of the Land of Israel itself. Finally, the blazing mountain foundations point to the ultimate destruction of Jerusalem [אדרת אליהו].