Following the previous episode concerning the angels, who is speaking to whom here?
Rashi and Ramban #1: HaSh-m is speaking to Avraham; carrying out His decision to reveal the impending destruction of Sedom to him.
Ramban #2 (al-Pi Kabalah): HaSh-m was saying it to Himself, as He 'descended' from Midas Rachamim to Midas ha'Din. 1
Seforno: HaSh-m is speaking to him, only whereas the earlier appearance was a mere revelation, now it was in the form of a prophecy.
Rashbam: It is the angel informing him in the name of HaSh-m 2 that HaSh-m sent the angels due to the cries that emanated from Sedom. 3
Targum Yonasan: HaSh-m is speaking here to the angels. However the Ramban states that the commentaries agree unanimously that He is speaking to Avraham, as Rashi explains.
The verse condemns the Sodomites' sin as very great. (Also see Bereishis 13:13.) But Chazal describe their attitude as mere unwillingness to share, "What's mine is mine, and what's yours is yours!" (Avos 5:10)?
Maharal (Nesivos Olam, Gemilus Chasadim Ch. 5, p. 164): If a person begins by standing upon the letter of the law and not giving in, eventually he will forcibly take anything he thinks might be his. Once used to doing this, he will sink to outright violent robbery. 1 They were therefore punished with unequivocal Midas ha'Din.
See Maharal further as to the perverted laws of Sedom; also refer to 13:13:3.1:1.
These cities saw how Avraham miraculously defeated the four kings. How could they do such terrible Aveiros?
Lev Eliyahu (Bereishis, p. 44): They were used to living based on their Midos and lusts, and did not follow intellect.
