And thus do you find with the men of Sodom, that You gave them a grace period for repentance and they did not repent. As it is written (Genesis 18:20-21) "And the L–rd said: The outcry of Sodom and Gomorrah, because it has become great … I shall go down now and I shall see, etc." (Ibid. 19:24) "And the L–rd rained down upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire": If they repent—rain; if not, brimstone and fire. It is written here "rain," and elsewhere (Psalms 11:6) "rain." Just as there (ab initio) "rain," so, here, (ab initio) "rain."—But perhaps, just as here, "brimstone and fire," there, too, brimstone and fire!—It is, therefore, (to negate this) written (Genesis, Ibid.) "from the L–rd, from heaven" (and evil does not descend [ab initio] from the L–rd.) And You did not decree (destruction) upon them until they had consummated their evil. And thus with Egypt.