[וה' המטיר על סדום]. זש"ה כמו שבלול תמס יהלך (תהלים נח ט), [כמו שהשבולת הזו נשטפת, כן אנשי סדום נשטפו, תמס יהלך], שהמסה אותם הקב"ה באש, נפל אשת בל חזו שמש (שם) שלא חזו אנשי סדום, שנאמר השמש יצא על הארץ (בראשית יט כג), מה כתיב שם וה' המטיר על סדום וגו'. [(Gen. 19:24:) THEN THE LORD RAINED DOWN UPON SODOM.] This text is related (to Ps. 58:9 [8]): LET THEM BE LIKE A SNAIL (ShBLWL),< WHICH DISSOLVES AND GOES AWAY; LIKE A WOMAN'S STILLBIRTH, THEY HAVE NOT SEEN THE SUN >.66Cf. Gen. R. 51:1. [Just as a flood stream (ShBLT) is swept away, so were the people of Sodom swept away. WHICH DISSOLVES AND GOES AWAY], in that the Holy One dissolved them in fire. LIKE A WOMAN'S STILLBIRTH, THEY HAVE NOT SEEN THE SUN, in that the people of Sodom did not see < it any more >, as stated (in Gen. 19:23): THE SUN HAD RISEN OVER THE EARTH < WHEN LOT CAME TO ZOHAR >. What < else > is written there (in vs. 24)? THEN THE LORD RAINED DOWN UPON SODOM < AND UPON GOMORRAH BRIMSTONE AND FIRE >.
ד"א מהו כמו שבלול, כמו שהשבולת הזו של מים שוטפת כל מה שהיא מוצאה, כך תוריכוס שעומד במדינה, כל מה שנמצא עמו נשטף עמו, שנאמר כמו שבלול, וכיון שמת אינו רואה עוד שמש, למה שהוא תוריכוס. Another interpretation (of Ps. 58:9 [8]): What is the meaning of LIKE A SNAIL (ShBLWL)? Just as a flood stream (ShBLT) sweeps away whatever it comes upon, so it is with a rioter67Gk.: thorubos (tumult). who rises up in a region. Anyone who is found with him is swept away with him. Thus it is stated: LIKE A SNAIL (ShBLWL). And when he is dead, he no longer sees the sun (cf. ibid., cont.)68Jastrow, s.v. toribos, translates the clause, “he faces no more the sun (his body is not exhibited for public honors).” Why? Because he was a rioter.