“The men extended their hands, and brought Lot to them, to the house, and closed the door” (Genesis 19:10). “They struck the men who were at the entrance of the house with blindness, from small to great; and they were unable to find the entrance” (Genesis 19:11). “The men extended their hands, and brought Lot to them, to the house…the men who were at the entrance of the house” – the one who initiated the transgression, the punishment began with him, as it is stated: “The people of Sodom…[from young to old]”; therefore, “they struck…with blindness, from small to great.”
Similarly, “He obliterated all existence that was on the face of the earth, [from man, to animal]” (Genesis 7:23) – the one who initiated the transgression, the punishment began with him.32It says: “The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth” (Genesis 6:5). Similarly, “On the day that I smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt…[from man to animal]” (Numbers 3:13) – the one who initiated the transgression, the punishment began with him.
Similarly, “Her belly will distend and her thigh shall fall” (Numbers 5:27) – the part of the body that initiated the transgression, the punishment began with it.33In engaging in intercourse, she sinned with her belly and her thigh. They were stricken first, and then the rest of her body. Similarly, “You shall smite the inhabitants of that city by sword…[and its animals by sword]” (Deuteronomy 13:16) – the one who initiated the transgression, the punishment began with him.
“And they were unable [vayilu] to find the entrance.” They grew weary [ilun], as it says: “It will be when it appears that Moav has wearied [nila]” (Isaiah 16:12). They became angry, as it says: “I am too irritated [nileiti] to bear” (Isaiah 1:14). They went mad, as it says: “For My people is foolish [ehvil]” (Jeremiah 4:22).