'The heavens' could be a metaphor for clouds and the 'lake of fire' could be a metaphor for the lava-filled crater.[13] Several bible critics[who?] have indicated that the smoke and fire reference from the Bible suggests that Mount Sinai was a volcano;[14] despite the absence of ash.[15] Other bible scholars have suggested that the description fits a storm[15] especially as the Song of Deborah seems to allude to rain having occurred at the time.[16] According to the biblical account, God spoke directly to the Israelite nation as a whole.[17][18]